By Matt Gade

605 Sports

VERMILLION — Each year, Olivia Kieffer continues to earn more and more playing time as a part of the University of South Dakota women’s basketball team.

Heading into her junior year, the Rapid City Christian alum thinks the Coyotes have got the pieces to put together a strong 2025-26 campaign and really compete in the Summit League.

“I think this team is extremely capable, just a lot of competitors,” Kieffer said. “A lot of people coming every day, wanting to be the best versions of themselves. And I think that can take us a long way. I’m very optimistic for the season, and optimistic to see how successful we can be. We have a lot of high hopes for this year, for sure.”

During her sophomore year, Kieffer averaged over 17 minutes per game, just under 5 points per game, 2.2 rebounds a game, and made her first career start against Loyola Marymount University. 

Kieffer recorded a season-high 16 points against Arizona State on Nov. 27, 2024, in addition to scoring 15 points, including four threes, in a win over Northern Arizona on Dec. 7, 2024.

While Kieffer expects to see more minutes and get the opportunity to take more baskets, she just wants to see the Coyotes win.

“I think truly, whatever helps the team the best, I'm completely great with doing,” Kieffer said. “I hope to be taking more shots this year, but yeah, just happy to do truly whatever is going to best serve the team.”

Under second-year head coach Carrie Eighmey, the Coyotes have added several new additions, both from the incoming freshmen class but also out of the portal. 

Kieffer is just one of two returning members of last year’s squad. The other being fellow South Dakota native and Viborg-Hurley alum, Coral Mason.

University of South Dakota's Olivia Kieffer against St.Thomas last season. (Courtesy USD Athletics)

Despite all of the new faces, Kieffer said this year’s group of players seems to have really gelled well together, very quickly.

“It's been super easy,” Kieffer said of getting to know her teammates. “Which has been a really big blessing, because when you have as many new parts as we do, I think it can go a couple of different but very drastic ways. And so that's been really encouraging.

“From the onset, everyone's been so easy to get along with, and we honestly spend so much time with each other off the court. Which is pretty cool, because a lot of times when teams spend this much time with each other on the court, people don't necessarily want to hang out with your teammates just because you do so much, but we do. If you don't have a very good relationship off the court. It's pretty hard to gel well on the court, and so, I would just say, we’ve been super blessed with such great people on the team, so that it's just made that bonding process so easy.”

Kieffer said just another year with coach Eighmey also means she is more comfortable with what is asked of her, and they both have greater trust in each other. 

One of the new pieces of the Coyotes squad includes senior transfer and Rapid City Central alum, Josie Hill, who transferred from Chicago State University. 

Hill said Kieffer has been very welcoming of her to Vermillion, in addition to being the one she’d want taking the game-winning shot. 

“She's a shooter for sure. She barely misses in practice,” Hill said. “If that thing's going up, it's most likely going in, and that's what I really like. You can count on her. If we need a last-minute bucket, I'm going to Kieffer, knocking down a three. Her driving ability, too, she's not afraid to get to the rim and has good step-throughs, but overall, her three-point shot — so good.”

Kieffer and the Coyotes were selected to finish fourth in the Summit League preseason poll. In-state rival and defending Summit League champion South Dakota State University was tabbed the top team in the same poll. 

As the Coyotes open up the season on Nov. 3, Kieffer said after a disappointing finish in the Summit League tournament last year, she and the Coyotes have put in a lot of work and are finally ready to start playing.

“We’re very motivated for sure, and I think obviously it’s a very new team, but I think we all share that common motivation,” said Kieffer, who is majoring sports psychology. “Preseason gets long, that's just kind of how it works. A lot of practices with not a lot of specific preparation. So I'm really excited for games, to just have a very defined thing we're working toward. Excited to see the work that we put in just kind of come to fruition.”