October 10, 2015
VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS
Photo credits by Tyler Flaagan
MADISON, S.D. – After winning a pair of hotly contest sets to open the match by narrow, two-point margins, in the key North Star Athletic Association conference volleyball match at DSU Fieldhouse Saturday afternoon, Dakota State (S.D.) committed 20 attack errors combined in the third and fourth sets as Bellevue (Neb.) forced a decisive fifth-set. The Trojans used a fast start and held off BU's late rally for a 3-2 thriller by the scores of 25-23, 26-24, 10-25, 13-25 and 15-12.
Dakota State improved their overall record to 14-12 and moved up to third place in the NSAA volleyball conference standings with a 6-2 record. Bellevue, receiving votes in the latest NAIA Volleyball Coaches' Top 25 national poll, fell to 17-11 overall record and suffered their first NSAA conference record (2-1 record).
DSU is 2-1 record versus teams in the NSAA's Volleyball South Division with its only setback to No. 2 Viterbo (Wis.). BU is 0-1 NSAA South Division record.
Dakota State improved to 4-1 record this season in five-set matches versus NSAA conference foes this season.
The Trojans and Bruins went through 16 ties and 4 lead changes in the opening set. The Trojans had a 24-20 lead before BU charged back with a 3-0 run to trim DSU's lead to 24-23. Tessa Weeldreyer closed the first set with a kill as Dakota State hung on for a 25-23 victory and 1-0 match lead.
Both teams had 14 kills in the opening set, but the Bruins committed 9 attack errors (.111 hitting percentage) while the Trojans had 7 attack errors (.171 hitting efficiency).
Dakota State started the second set by scoring four straight points before Bellevue used a 14-6 run for a 14-10 lead. At 20-20, the Bruins went on a 4-0 run to grab a 24-20 lead.
The Trojans saved BU's set points four times and completed a furious comeback to win the second set with a 6-0 run for a 26-24 win for DSU's 2-0 lead. BU outhit DSU 16-14, but the Trojans recorded a hitting percentage of .233 compared to Bruins' .208 hitting percentage.
Bellevue responded in a dominating fashion in sets three and four to force the fifth set, largely part to their 12 blocks and just committed 3 attack errors (23 kills in 61 attempts), to win by scores of 25-10 and 25-13. The Trojans committed 10 attack errors in both third and fourth sets.
Dakota State raced to a 4-0 lead in the fifth set, thanks to two kills by Weeldreyer and a kill by Alicia Karst. The Trojans continued their scoring run by extending their lead to 9-3.
DSU had a 14-7 lead in the fifth set, but Bruins went on to score five straight points to cut Trojans' lead to 14-12. After Dakota State's final timeout of the fifth set, Weeldreyer smashed a kill to secure a thrilling five-set victory at 15-12.
The Trojans recorded three blocks in the fifth set and a hitting percentage of .200 (8 kills with 3 errors in 25 attempts). The Bruins were held to .036 hitting efficiency (7 kills with 6 errors in 28 attempts).
A total of 27 ties and 6 lead changes were recorded in the match.
Carly Rozell produced a double-double of 17 kills and 17 digs for Dakota State. McKenzie Werner added nine kills. Kirstin Johnson, Karst, Weeldreyer and Kylie Martin each smashed six kills.
Kaylee Vander Wal collected 25 set assists for the Trojans. Rachel Johnson had a double-double of 17 assists and 11 digs.
Chelsey Davis tallied 28 digs for DSU. Allison Thielsen added 11 digs. Weeldreyer recorded five block assists. Werner had thee block assists. Kirstin Johnson, Karst and Rozell each had two block assists.
Thielsen and Weeldreyer each registered two service aces for Dakota State.
Three BU players recorded double-figures kills, led by Mikaylah Gillespie who had 16 kills and a hitting percentage of .405. Rachel Wald added 13 kills. Marylyn Mozena had 10 kills.
Beth Walker produced a double-double of 48 assists and 19 digs for the Bruins. She also had seven kills.
Taylor Holz led Bellevue's defense with 22 digs. Erin Warren added 15 digs. Victoria Bowens had 12 digs. Addison Smith recorded 11 digs.
Rachel Barr registered 11 blocks and a solo block for BU. Shayla Scanlan added 10 block assists and a solo block.
Bellevue outhit Dakota State 60-53 in the match. The Bruins hit .198 (24 errors in 182 attempts) while the Trojans were held to .106 hitting efficiency (34 errors in 180 attempts).
The Bruins collected 34 block assists and 2 solo blocks (19 total blocks) compared to the Trojans 14 block assists and a solo block (8 blocks).
BU had 87 digs. DSU had 84 digs.
Dakota State continues their eight-match home stand as they host a pair of NSAA conference contests next weekend, hosting Valley City State (N.D.) in a 'Dig Pink' match on Friday night and Mayville State (N.D.) in a Parents' Night next Saturday (Oct. 17). Both varsity matches are set to start at 7 p.m. at DSU Fieldhouse.
Bellevue returns back to action next weekend as they head to Des Moines, Iowa for four matches in the two-day Grand View (Iowa) Tournament. The Bruins face another NSAA foe, Jamestown (N.D.), to kick off the tournament on Friday.
Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director
