September 5, 2014

Photos credit by Kaden Huntrods

VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS

MADISON, S.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) had nine different players with a kill Friday evening in a three-set sweep over Grace (Neb.) at DSU Fieldhouse.  The Trojans remained undefeated in the current three-match stand with a 25-18, 25-23 and 25-20 victory over the Royals.

Dakota State raised their overall record to 6-4 and had won their second straight match.  Grace, located in Omaha, dropped their overall record to 4-3.

The Trojans outhit the Royals 15-9 in the opening set to earn a 25-18 victory.  DSU hit .257 in the set, while GC was held to .063.

With Dakota State holding a 16-9 lead in the second set, the Royals scored five straight points to trim DSU's lead to 16-14.  At 23-23, DSU scored the final two points of the set by Carly Rozell's kill and GU's attack error for a 25-23 victory.  The Trojans' match lead grew to 2-0.

Dakota State hit .278 in the second set with 16 kills and 6 errors in 36 attempts.  Grace hit .121 with 10 kills and 6 errors in 33 attempts.

DSU shook off their slow start to start the third set as Grace started with a 6-1 lead.  The Trojans used a 15-2 scoring run (including seven straight points) to regain their lead at 16-10.  DSU closed out the match with a 25-20 victory, earning three straight sets sweep over the Royals.

The Trojans smashed 15 kills in the third set with a hitting efficiency of .205 (7 errors in 39 attempts).  Grace was held to .100 hitting percentage (10 kills with 6 errors in 40 attempts).

Caitlin Pick and Carly Rozell recorded double-digits kills for the Trojans.  Pick smashed 11 kills, her sixth time this season that she had recorded at least 10 kills.  Rozell added 10 kills, her third straight with double-digit kills and seventh overall this season.

Kylie Martin had nine kills and hit .538 in the match for DSU.  Tessa Weeldreyer added seven kills. 

Stacey Westby produced 21 set assists for the Trojans.  Kaylee Vander Wal added 15 assists. 

Vander Wal had two service aces for Dakota State.  Rozell added an ace. 

Katherine Gonzalez led the Trojans' defense with 12 digs.  Allison Thielsen added 11 digs.  Chelsey Davis recorded nine digs.    Weeldreyer had a solo block and two assists (2 total blocks).

Meghan Ward and Chelsea Entz led the Royals with nine kills.  Aaliyah Dunbar added seven kills.

Adriee Munoz collected 28 assists for Grace.

Munoz and Chloe Corbett each had two service aces for GC.

Corbett recorded 12 digs for the Royals.  Chelsea Entz had three block assists.

Dakota State outhit Grace 46-29 in the match.  The Trojans hit .245 compared to the Royals' .095.

Grace had four blocks compared to the Trojans' three blocks.

DSU's junior varsity team earned their first victory of the season by sweeping the Royals in two straight sets by an identical score of 25-18.

Dakota State concludes their three-match home stand Saturday afternoon.  The Trojans welcome Waldorf (Iowa) in a non-conference action at DSU Fieldhouse.  There will be a junior varsity match at 1:30 p.m. and varsity match to follow at 3 p.m.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director