October 24, 2014

DICKINSON, N.D. – After falling by two points in the opening set (25-27) Friday evening at Scott Gymnasium, Dakota State (S.D.) held on to defeat Dickinson State (N.D.) 3-1 in the North Star Athletic Association conference match.  The Trojans won the final three sets by the scores of 25-19, 26-24 and 25-23 for their fifth conference victory for the first time since 2008 season.

Dakota State snapped their two-match losing skid to raise their overall record to 18-13 (most victories since 2004 season).  Dickinson State dropped to 1-23 overall record and 1-6 NSAA record.  DaSU swept the season series with DiSU by winning all three matches this season.

The opening set saw a see-saw battle between the Trojans and the Blue Hawks going through 26 ties and 11 lead changes.  Trailing 25-24, Dickinson State was able to close out the first set by scoring the final three points from a kill by Tessa Sian and a pair of service aces by Morgan Lutz for a 27-25 victory.

Dakota State started the second set by scoring the first three points with a service ace from Stacey Westby and a kill by Taylor Stratton and Caitlin Pick.  The Trojans continued to expand their lead to 15-8.  DaSU closed out the second set with a 25-19 victory, tying the match at 1-1. 

The Trojans hit .286 in the second set while Dickinson State hit .163 (DaSU outhit DiSU 18-12).

Dakota State used another fast start in the third set, gaining an 8-3 lead.  The Blue Hawks answered back with a 10-3 scoring run to overtake a 13-11 lead.

At 24-24, the Trojans finished the third set with a kill by Stratton and Pick to earn a 2-1 match lead with a 26-24 victory.  DaSU had 18 kills in the third set with a killing efficiency of .179 compared to DiSU 17 kills with a killing efficiency of .177.

Dickinson State grabbed a 10-7 lead in the fourth set.  Dakota State responded with a 12-3 scoring run to gain the biggest lead of the fourth set at 19-13. 

The Blue Hawks mounted a rally with a 9-2 run (including seven consecutive points) to regain their lead at 22-21, forcing the Trojans to call timeout. 

Dakota State sealed the match with a 4-1 closing run, thanks to three kills by Stratton.  The Trojans held on to defeat the Blue Hawks with a 25-23 fourth set victory.  DaSU outhit DiSU 17-12.

Carly Rozell smashed a match-high 20 kills for the Trojans.  She hit .333 in the match and averaged 5.0 kills per set.  Pick added 17 kills.  Stratton earned a double-double of 11 kills and 10 digs.

Stacey Westby produced a season-high 35 set assists (8.8 assists per set) for Dakota State.  Kaylee Vander Wall tallied 21 assists.

Katherine Gonzalez, who was selected to NSAA Volleyball Defensive Player-of-the-Week earlier this week, led the Trojans' defense with 32 digs (8.8 digs per set).  Chelsey Davis added 14 digs.  Allison Thielsen had 10 digs.

Pick recorded 3.5 blocks in the match for DaSU with two solo blocks and three block assists.  Alicia Karst added three block assists (1.5 total blocks).  Tessa Weeldreyer registered two block assists (1 total block).

Thielsen had two service aces for the Trojans.  Westby, Gonzalez and Rozell each had a service ace.

Sian had 14 kills and hit .367 for the Blue Hawks.  Shelby Gustafson and Miranda Kadrmas each added 12 kills.  Tori Baumiller and Lutz each collected 21 assists.

Natasha Malana recorded 32 digs for Dickinson State.  Lutz added 14 digs.  Justine Braunagel had 13 digs.

Sian led DiSU with 3.5 blocks (two solo blocks and three block assists).  Kate Golding added three blocks (two solo blocks and two block assists).  Gustafson had two solo blocks.

Dakota State outhit Dickinson State 66-56 in the match.  The Trojans hit .197 (26 errors in 203 attempts) while the Blue Hawks hit .186 (20 errors in 194 attempts).

DaSU tallied a team season-high 106 digs compared to DiSU's 98 digs.

Dickinson State recorded 11.5 blocks in the match (6 solo blocks and 11 block assists).  The Trojans had seven blocks (2 solo blocks and 10 block assists).

Both teams had five service aces in the match.

Dakota State continues their action on the road Saturday afternoon.  The Trojans travel to Jamestown, N.D. to take on Jamestown (N.D.), No. 18 in the latest NAIA Volleyball Coaches' 'Top 25' national poll, in the battle of the top two teams in the NSAA conference.  First serve from the Hansen Center is set for 3 p.m.  The Jimmies had clinched at least a share of the NSAA regular-season title after sweeping in three straight sets over Presentation (S.D.).

Dickinson State stays home Saturday as they host the Saints at 8 p.m. (Central Time)/7 p.m. (Mountain Time).

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director