September 26, 2014
Photos credits by Kaden Huntrods
VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS
MADISON, S.D. – The Dakota State University volleyball team returned back to North Star Athletic Association conference action Friday evening at DSU Fieldhouse, hosting Dickinson State (N.D.). The Trojans remained undefeated in NSAA conference play with a three straight set sweep over the Blue Hawks 25-17, 25-21 and 25-22.
Dakota State raised their overall record to 13-6 (most victories since 2011) and 2-0 in NSAA conference play. Dickinson State remained winless in 15 matches this season and 0-3 record in North Star.
The Trojans won the opening set 25-17 after hitting .237 with 13 kills and committed 4 errors in 38 attempts. The Blue Hawks struggled by hitting .071 with 11 kills and recorded 8 errors in 42 attempts.
DaSU jumped to a 7-1 lead and extended to the largest lead of the second set at 12-3. DiSU used a 7-1 scoring run to trim Trojans' lead at 14-10. Dakota State never looked back to earn set two victory 25-21.
The Trojans hit .245 (17 kills with 5 errors in 49 attempts) in the second set compared to the Blue Hawks' .146 (13 kills with 6 errors in 48 attempts).
Dakota State and Dickinson State went through a see-saw battle in the third set. Trailing 18-17, the Trojans went to score four straight points to earn a 21-17 lead. With the Trojans leading 23-22, DaSU was able to close out the match with a kill by Kylie Martin and Carly Rozell for a 3-0 match victory over DiSU.
Both teams hit well under .100 in the third set. The Trojans recorded a hitting efficiency of .081 (10 kills with 7 errors in 37 attempts), while the Blue Hawks hit .071 (12 kills with 9 errors in 42 attempts).
Caitlin Pick and Carly Rozell each smashed 10 kills for Dakota State. Rozell had a double-double in the match as she earned 10 digs. Hope Juntunen and Tessa Weeldreyer each added six kills. Martin had five kills.
Stacey Westby and Kaylee Vander Wal each produced 16 set assists for the Trojans.
Katherine Gonzalez collected 17 digs for DaSU. Chelsey Davis added nine digs. Allison Thielsen and Vander Wall each had seven digs.
Weeldreyer, Westby, Vander Wall and Rozell each recorded a service ace for Dakota State.
Weeldreyer, Pick and Rozell each had a solo block for the Trojans. Juntunen added two block assists.
Tessa Sian and Brenna Hansen each had eight kills for Dickinson State. Shelby Gustafson and Miranda Kadrmas each added six kills. Tori Baumiller recorded 31 set assists.
Natasha Malana earned 20 digs to lead the Blue Hawks' defense. Gustafson and Hansen each had three block assists.
Malana recorded two service aces for DiSU.
Dakota State outhit Dickinson State 40-36 in the match. The Trojans hit .194 (16 errors with 124 attempts) compared to the Blue Hawks' .098 (23 errors in 132 attempts).
DaSU recorded a serving percentage of .959 (4 service aces, 3 service errors in 74 attempts) while DiSU had a service percentage of .902 (3 service aces, 6 service errors in 61 attempts).
The Trojans had 65 digs compared to the Blue Hawks' 58 digs. Both teams had five blocks in the match.
Dakota State concludes their four-match home stand Saturday afternoon. The Trojans welcome nationally-ranked No. 24 Jamestown (N.D.) in the battle of NSAA's conference supremacy (DaSU and UJ are the only remaining undefeated teams in NSAA conference play). The junior varsity match kicks off at 1 p.m. with the varsity match to follow at 3 p.m.
The Trojan Volleyball team will be recognizing their parents prior to the varsity match Saturday as part of Parents' Night.
Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director
