October 28, 2014
VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS
PHOTO GALLERY - Junior Varsity - Varsity - Photos credits by Cody Welu
MADISON, S.D. – The Dakota State University volleyball team returned home Tuesday evening to kick off their three-match home stand, hosting long-time rival Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) at DSU Fieldhouse. After falling in the opening set 25-23, the Trojans hang on to win in four sets over the Tigers by taking the last three sets by the scores of 28-26, 25-22 and 26-24.
Dakota State raised their overall record to 19-14, most victories for the first time since 2004 with 24 victories. Dakota Wesleyan, a member of the Great Plains Athletic Conference, fell to 8-18 overall record. The Trojans swept the season series with the Tigers with both matches in four sets (DSU defeated DWU in the Corn Palace earlier this season as part of the Corn Palace Classic on Aug 29).
Trailing 4-3 in the opening set, the Tigers scored four straight points to take a 7-4 lead. DWU would never look back as they took the first set by the score of 25-23. Dakota Wesleyan hit .260 in the opening set (17 kills with 4 errors in 50 attempts) compared to Dakota State .216 hitting efficiency (18 kills with 7 errors in 51 attempts).
DSU and DWU battled back-and-forth with 17 ties and five lead changes in the second set. With the Tigers leading 24-22, the Trojans saved two set points to tie the second set at 24-24 after Taylor Stratton's kill and an attack error by DWU's Sammy Fluck.
At 26-26, Dakota State scored the final two points to win the second set 28-26. A kill by DSU's Carly Rozell put the Trojans up 27-26 and DWU committed an attack error by Mallory Jark, helping DSU to tie the match at 1-1.
The Trojans outhit the Tigers 21-14 in the second set.
Dakota State broke up the 4-4 tie in the third set with a 6-0 scoring run for a 10-4 lead, thanks to four attack errors committed by the Tigers. The Trojans went on to hold to a 25-22 third set victory after smashing an impressive .375 (15 kills with 3 errors in 32 attempts). DWU hit .250 in the third set (15 kills with 6 errors in 36 attempts).
The Trojans stormed to a 9-2 commanding lead in the fourth set. At 18-14 in favor of DSU, DWU would use an 8-1 scoring run to overtake a 22-19 lead and forced the Trojans to call their second timeout of the fourth set.
DSU rallied back to tie the fourth set at 22-22. Trailing 23-22, the Trojans saved a set point after the Tigers suffered a service error by Jark. After an attack error by DWU's Lauren Tadlock, Stratton sealed the match with a kill for a 26-24 fourth set victory.
Both team struggled with hitting in the fourth set as DSU recorded a .022 hitting percentage (11 kills with 10 errors in 46 attempts). DWU had a hitting percentage of minus .026 (9 kills with 10 errors in 39 attempts).
Rozell smashed a total of 20 kills for the Trojans. Caitlin Pick added 15 kills. Stratton and Tessa Weeldreyer each earned nine kills. Kylie Martin had seven kills.
Stacey Westby recorded a double-double of 32 assists and 13 digs for the Trojans. She surpassed her 1,000th career dig at Dakota State.
Kaylee Vander Wall produced 22 set assists for DSU.
Katherine Gonzalez led the Trojans' defense with a match-high 29 digs. Chelsey Davis and Allison Thielsen each added 12 digs.
Westby recorded two service aces for Dakota State.
Pick and Weeldreyer each had 2.5 blocks for the Trojans. Rozell added 1.5 blocks.
Tadlock led DWU with a double-double of 20 kills and 22 digs. Jark added 10 kills. Fluck recorded eight kills.
Michelle Van Epps registered a double-double of 49 assists and 13 digs for the Tigers.
Maggie Stehly collected 26 digs for Dakota Wesleyan. Mackenzie Stevens had 15 digs. Taylor Spence recorded 10 digs.
Dana Misiaszek led DWU with three service aces. Stehly added two aces.
Jark earned 6.0 blocks for the Tigers (3 solo blocks and 6 block assists). Fluck added five block assists (2.5 blocks).
Dakota State outhit Dakota Wesleyan 65-55 in the match. The Trojans hit .183 (29 errors in 197 attempts) compared to the Tigers .158 (26 kills in 184 attempts).
DWU recorded 15 team blocks, while DSU had 7 team blocks.
The Tigers had a service percentage of .949 with six service aces. The Trojans had a service percentage of .941 with two aces.
DSU tallied 96 digs compared to DWU 93 digs.
DWU won the junior varsity match in two straight sets (25-23 and 25-18).
Dakota State continues their home stand at DSU Fieldhouse this weekend as they return back to North Star Athletic Association conference action. The Trojans host Mayville State (N.D.) Friday evening, with a junior varsity match at 5 p.m. and varsity match to follow at 7 p.m. Costume Party will be the theme for the volleyball match on Friday.
Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director
