October 23, 2015

ABERDEEN, S.D. – Six Dakota State (S.D.) recorded double-figures in kills and set season highs in four different categories Friday night for a five-set North Star Athletic Association (NSAA) thriller over Presentation (S.D.) at Strode Center.  It was the fifth straight victory for the Trojans, who had won for the 14th time in the last 17 matches and completed the season series sweep over the Saints with both matches going to the distance.

Dakota State secured back-to-back winning seasons for the first time in a decade, raising their overall record to 18-12 and 9-2 NSAA conference record.  DSU's nine conference victories are the most wins since 2005 when the Trojans finished 9-5 conference record in the former Dakota Athletic Conference.  Presentation fell to 14-15 overall record and 4-7 NSAA record.

DSU recorded their 16th victory in the last 21 NSAA conference regular-season matches.

The Trojans and Saints went through eight ties in the opening set.  At 11-11, the Trojans went on an 11-2 scoring spurt to grab a 22-13 lead.  The Saints answered back with an 8-1 scoring run to cut DSU's lead to 23-21, forcing the Trojans to call timeout.  DSU went on to score the final two points for a 25-21 lead, opening with a 1-0 match lead. 

DSU and PC went through 15 ties in the second set where it was decided within two points.  At 26-26, Presentation tied the match at 1-1 after smashing a pair of kills for a 28-26 victory.  DSU outhit PC 20-18 in the second set, but committed 8 attack errors in 64 attempts compared to Saints' 4 attack errors in 66 attempts.

Dakota State and Presentation recorded 10 ties in the first 20 points of the third set.  Knotted at 10-10, the Trojans went on a 6-2 scoring run to open up a four-point lead at 16-12.  DSU held on to win the third set 25-21, regaining their lead at 2-1.

After a see-saw battle in the fourth set through 10 ties and 4 lead changes, Presentation forced the fifth and deciding set after winning 25-23.

The Saints opened up with an 8-4 lead in the fifth set before staging a furious comeback.  The Trojans finished the match by using an 11-4 scoring run for a 15-12 fifth set victory. 

Dakota State is 6-1 record this season in five-set matches, including a 5-1 record in the NSAA conference matches. 

Carly Rozell posted a double-double of 17 kills and 25 digs for the Trojans.  Kirstin Johnson and Tessa Weeldreyer each added 13 kills.  McKenzie Werner and Kylie Martin each smashed 11 kills.  Alicia Karst had 10 kills.

Kaylee Vander Wal produced a double-double of 32 set assists and 17 assists for Dakota State.  Rachel Johnson added a double-double of 25 assists and 12 digs.

Chelsey Davis recorded the second most digs in a single match in DSU Volleyball record book with 45 digs.  She also surpassed her 1000 digs milestone during her career at Dakota State.  She also had three service aces in the match.

Allison Thielsen had 13 digs for the Trojans.  Kirstin Johnson and Martin each had two block assists.

Five Presentation recorded double figures in kills, led by Karly Fuhrman with 15 kills.  Taylor Orhn had a double-double of 14 kills and 35 digs.  Maria Nightingale had 13 kills.  Jordyn Dekker smashed 11 kills, while Jamie Murschel had 10 kills.

Abigail Wahl collected 26 assists for the Saints.  Maddie Goetz added 25 digs.

Kaitlyn Boesl registered 36 digs for PC.  Dekker recorded seven block assists and Nightingale had five block assists.

The Trojans set season-highs in kills (75), attack attempts (245), assists (71) and digs (136).  DSU's 71 assists are tied for third most set assists in the Trojan Volleyball record book.

Dakota State hit .184 in the match (30 errors) compared to Presentation .159 hitting efficiency (66 kills with 26 errors in 251 attempts).

There were a total of 496 attacks, 141 attacks and 56 errors combined by both teams.  In addition, a total of 258 digs were recorded in the match with DSU registering 136 digs and PC with 122 digs.

Presentation had 10 team blocks in the match (20 block assists) compared to DSU 2 team blocks (4 block assists).

Dakota State looks to extend their winning streak Tuesday evening as they return home at DSU Fieldhouse.  The Trojans host their long-time rival Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) in a non-conference match, starting with a junior varsity match at 6 p.m., followed by a varsity match at 7:30 p.m.  Two seniors – Thielsen and Karst – will be recognized prior to the varsity match.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director