September 30, 2014

YANKTON, S.D. – The Dakota State University volleyball team kicked off their four-match road stretch Tuesday evening, visiting their in-state rival Mount Marty (S.D.) in a non-conference action at Cimpl Arena.  The Lancers swept the Trojans in three straight sets by the score of 25-22, 25-22 and 25-18, despite being outhit 39-35 by DSU.

Dakota State fell to 13-8 overall record and finished the month of September with a 9-4 record.  Mount Marty, a member of the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC), lifted their overall record to 7-10.  Both teams split their season series (DSU defeated MMC in four sets on Sept. 3 in Madison, S.D.).

MMC and DSU each smashed 14 kills in the opening set, but the Lancers came on top by three points (25-22).  Mount Marty hit .250 in the first set (6 errors in 32 attempts), while the Trojans committed 8 attack errors in 42 attempts (.143 hitting efficiency).

The Lancers scored another 25-22 victory in the second set to extend their match lead to 2-0.  Both teams struggled offensively as the MMC hit .059 (9 kills with 7 errors in 34 attempts) compared to DSU .026 hitting percentage (11 kills with 10 errors in 39 attempts).

Mount Marty hit .256 with 12 kills and committed just two errors in 39 attempts to secure the match with a 25-19 third set victory.  The Trojans had 14 kills with 6 errors in 49 attempts (.163 hitting percentage).

Tessa Weeldreyer led the Trojans' offense with 10 kills.  Kylie Martin added seven kills.  Caitlin Pick and Carly Rozell each had six kills.  Brittney Anderson smashed five kills.

Stacey Westby registered 21 set assists for Dakota State.  Kaylee Vander Wal added 11 assists.

Katherine Gonzalez earned 11 digs for DSU.  Martin added seven digs.  Allison Thielsen had six digs.

Rozell recorded two service aces for the Trojans.  Pick had four block assists (2 total blocks).  Alicia Karst recorded three block assists.  Hope Juntunen and Weeldreyer each had two block assists.

Bailey Kuchta and Sierra Kloth each had nine kills for the Lancers.  Kristen Boyle recorded six kills. 

Amber Dythse produced 20 assists for MMC.  Courtney Miller and Kayla Jones each had three service aces.

BreAnne Thege had 16 digs for Mount Marty.  Kayla Jones added 11 digs.  Jena Peters and Boyle each had four block assists.

The Lancers hit .190 in the match (35 kills with 15 errors in 105 attempts).  The Trojans recorded a hitting efficiency of .115 and committed 24 attack errors in 130 attempts (39 total kills).

MMC had eight service aces compared to DSU two service aces.  The Lancers recorded seven team blocks, while the Trojans had six team blocks.

DSU's junior varsity team defeated Mount Marty in three sets.

Dakota State returns back to North Star Athletic Association (NSAA) conference action this weekend with a pair of matches.  The Trojans make their first stop in Mayville, N.D. for a match-up with Mayville State (N.D.) Friday evening.  There will be a junior varsity match at 5 p.m., followed by a varsity match at 7 p.m.  On Saturday, DSU visits Valley City State (N.D.) at 5 p.m.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director