November 1, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY - Photos credits by Cody Welu
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MADISON, S.D. – Dakota State finished off their 2014 regular-season schedule with a 3-1 North Star Athletic Association (NSAA) volleyball conference victory over Valley City State (N.D.) Saturday at DSU Fieldhouse. The Trojans won by the scores of 25-11, 21-25, 25-23 and 25-18.
Dakota State won their third straight match, lifting their overall record to 21-14. The Trojans finished the NSAA conference schedule with a 7-3 record and will host the semifinals of the NSAA Volleyball Postseason Tournament as No. 2 seed. Valley City State fell to 14-17 overall record, finishing fourth in the NSAA standings with a 4-6 record. The Vikings will host No. 5 seed Dickinson State (N.D.) in the quarterfinal round of the conference tournament next Saturday, Nov. 8.
Leading 11-7 in the opening set, DSU roared with an 8-0 scoring run as their lead grew to 19-7. The Trojans cruised to a 25-11 first set victory, gaining a 1-0 match lead over the Vikings. Dakota State hit an impressive .342 with 15 kills with 2 errors in 38 attempts. VCSU struggled by hitting a negative .045 (7 kills with 9 errors in 44 attempts.
With DSU leading 13-11 in the second set, the Vikings used an 8-3 scoring run for a 19-16 lead. Valley City State was able to close out with a 25-21 victory to tie the match at 1-1. VCSU hit .313 in the second set (15 kills with 5 errors in 32 attempts) compared to the Trojans' .250 hitting percentage (11 kills with 4 errors in 28 attempts).
The Trojans and Vikings battled back-and-forth in the third set by recording a total of 25 ties and 7 lead changes. DSU was able to finish off with a 25-23 win after the Vikings committed a service error by Rachel Hummel.
Trailing 7-4 in the fourth set, Dakota State went on a 10-1 scoring spurt to earn a 12-8 lead. The Trojans secured the match (25-18 fourth set victory) after VCSU suffered a service error by Jaycee George.
DSU hit .229 in the fourth set (12 kills with 4 errors in 35 attempts), while VCSU hit .122 (11 kills with 6 errors in 41 attempts).
Three DSU players recorded in double-digits kills, led by Caitlin Pick with 11 kills. Tessa Weeldreyer and Carly Rozell each added 10 kills. Taylor Stratton, Brittney Anderson and Kylie Martin each had five kills.
Stacey Westby earned a double-double of 19 set assists and 16 digs for the Trojans. Kaylee Vander Wal added 19 assists. Westby and Vander Wal each had a service ace.
Katherine Gonzalez collected 30 digs for Dakota State's defense. Chelsey Davis added 18 digs.
Rozell led the Trojans with four block assists (2 total blocks). Pick added 2.5 blocks (a solo block and three block assists).
Alley Theroux had 14 kills for the Vikings. Kaitlyn Heuring added 12 kills. Jodi Wilde had eight kills.
Stephanie Miller recorded a double-double of 34 assists and 12 digs for VCSU. Emily Plowman added 10 digs.
Rachel Hummel had three service aces for the Valley City State. Miller had two service aces.
DSU outhit VCSU 49-47 in the match. The Trojans hit .215 (17 kills with 149 attempts) compared to the Vikings' .114 hitting percentage (27 errors in 175 attempts).
Valley City State struggled from the serving line by recording a service percentage of .795 with 16 service errors and 6 service aces. DSU had a service percentage of .947 with 2 aces and 5 errors in 95 attempts.
The Trojans had six blocks in the match. The Vikings had four blocks.
DSU had 92 digs, while VCSU had 77 digs.
It was the final regular-season career collegiate home volleyball match for DSU's three seniors – Gonzalez, Pick and Westby.
Dakota State awaits the winner of No. 6 seed Presentation (S.D.)-No. 3 Mayville State (N.D.) in the semifinals round of the North Star Athletic Association Volleyball tournament (which is slated to start on Nov. 8). First serve from the DSU Fieldhouse is set for 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 12.
Valley City State will be at home as they host No. 5 seed Dickinson State (N.D.) next Saturday, Nov. 8 in the quarterfinals round at 7 p.m.
Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director
