September 13, 2014
OMAHA, Neb. – Dakota State (S.D.) extended their winning streak four matches Saturday afternoon after sweeping a pair of opponents on the second day of the College of Saint Mary (Neb.)-Grace (Neb.) Volleyball Tournament at Jim Classen Gym. The Trojans rolled past Southwestern (Kan.) 25-18, 25-23, 28-26 and AIB (Iowa) 25-19, 25-19 and 25-20 to complete the tournament with a 4-0 record.
Dakota State lifted their overall record to 11-5 after earning their sixth win in the last seven matches (6-1 record in the month of September). It was the first time since 2011 that the Trojans had a four-match winning streak.
Dakota State (S.D.) 3, Southwestern (Kan.) 0 – FINAL
The Trojans held Southwest to a dismal .035 hitting percentage earn a 3-0 sweep.
Carly Rozell led Dakota State's offense with 11 kills. Caitlin Pick added eight kills. Kylie Martin had seven kills. Stacey Westby produced 21 set assists. Kaylee Vander Wal added 13 assists.
Katherine Gonzales recorded 21 digs for the Trojans. Chelsey Davis added seven digs.
Tessa Weeldreyer had two service aces for DSU.
Pick collected seven block assists (3.5 total blocks) for the Trojans. Alicia Karst had five block assists (2.5 blocks).
Brittaney Craddock led the Moundbuilders with 14 kills. Jacqueline Erlanson had 20 assists.
Sarah Loesing and Carly Matthews each had 10 digs for Southwestern. Loesing recorded three service aces.
Dakota State smashed 40 kills and recorded a hitting efficiency of .160 in the match. SWU had 31 kills and committed 27 attack errors in 115 attempts.
The Trojans recorded double digits blocks for the fifth straight match, earning 12 blocks (2 solo blocks and 20 block assists). The Moundbuilders had four blocks.
Dakota State (S.D.) 3, AIB (Iowa) 0 – FINAL
Dakota State concluded the tournament with another 3-0 sweep over the Eagles. The Trojans hit .302 in the match – including an impressive .419 hitting percentage in the opening set – to earn their 11th win of the season.
Weeldreyer had 10 kills for DSU. Hope Juntunen earned nine kills. Pick added eight kills. Westby had 19 assists, while her teammate Vander Wal added 16 assists.
Gonzalez collected 14 digs for the Trojans. Davis had 10 digs. Pick and Rozel each had two block assists (1 total block).
Kirstin Johnson led AIB with 12 kills. Rochelle Means had 18 assists and Arly Pettinger 14 assists.
Ashley Larson recorded 11 digs for the Eagles. Pettinger had three block assists.
DSU outhit AIB 41-36 in the match. The Eagles had 22 attack errors in 105 attempts (.133 hitting percentage) while the Trojans committed 12 errors in 96 attempts.
Dakota State returns home Thursday evening to begin their four-match home stand. The Trojans will kick off the North Star Athletic Association conference season, hosting Presentation (S.D.) at DSU Fieldhouse. There will be a junior varsity match at 5 p.m., followed by a varsity match at 7 p.m.
Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director
