October 27, 2015
VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS - Coming Soon
Photos credits by Donald Weider and Tyler Flaagan
MADISON, S.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) posted a season-high 17 blocks Tuesday evening in a 3-2 Senior Night victory over long-time rival Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) at DSU Fieldhouse. The Trojans are 7-1 record in five-set matches this season, recording scores of 25-19, 24-26, 25-20, 28-30 and 15-11 for DSU's sixth straight win.
Dakota State won for the 15th time in the last 18 matches, raising their overall record to 19-12. Dakota Wesleyan lost their seventh straight match to drop their overall record to 11-17.
DSU honored two seniors—Alicia Karst and Allison Thielsen--prior to the match, playing in their final career home regular-season match at DSU Fieldhouse. Dakota State finished the regular-season home record at 8-2, earning their 11th victory in the last 14 home matches dating back to last season.
The Trojans opened up with a 14-9 lead in the first set before the Tigers called their first timeout. DWU used an 8-3 scoring run to tie at 17-17. DSU went on a 6-0 scoring run and secured the first set by the score of 25-19. The Trojans hit .391 in the first set (11 kills with 2 errors in 23 attempts) while recording four blocks. DWU was held to .059 hitting efficiency (11 kills with 9 errors in 34 attempts) and did not record a block.
Trailing 22-19 in the second set, Dakota Wesleyan sealed the set with a 7-2 scoring surge for a 26-24 victory and knotted the match at 1-1. DWU outhit DSU in the second set 17-11.
DSU and DWU went through 12 ties in the third set before the Trojans grabbed a 20-15 lead. DWU was able to cut Trojans' lead to 23-20, but a kill by Kirstin Johnson and Kylie Martin secured the third set victory for DSU at 25-20. DSU extended the match lead to 2-1 after hitting .333 (16 kills with 5 errors in 33 attempts) compared to Tigers' .175 hitting percentage (12 kills with 5 errors in 40 attempts).
Dakota Wesleyan roared with a 15-4 fourth set lead before the Trojans stormed back. Down 22-18, the Trojans went on an impressive 6-1 scoring run to grab their first lead of the second set at 24-23. DWU saved DSU's match point by Lauren Tadlock's kill at 24-24.
With DSU leading 28-27, the Tigers scored the final three points for 30-28 win to force the fifth and deciding set. DWU smashed 21 kills in the fourth set while DSU have 12 kills.
The opening of the fifth set saw six ties between the Trojans and Tigers. At 6-6, DSU broke up the tie with a 6-1 scoring run to gain a 12-7 lead. DWU could get no closer than three points at 14-11 before Carly Rozell sealed the match with a kill (assisted by Kaylee Vander Wal) for a 15-11 thriller.
Rozell and Tessa Weeldreyer each smashed 12 kills for Dakota State. Weeldreyer hit .407 in the match after recording just one error in 27 swings. McKenzie Werner added 10 kills. Kirstin Johnson and Kylie Martin each had eight kills. Karst recorded seven hills.
Rachel Johnson and Vander Wal each produced 24 set assists for DSU. Rachel Johnson posted a double-double with 10 digs.
Chelsey Davis collected 30 digs for Trojans' defense. Rozell added a double-double with 12 digs. Hannah Bauer recorded nine digs.
Kirstin Johnson led Dakota State with nine block assists. Weeldreyer and Werner each had six block assists. Karst registered five block assists.
Thielsen, Rozell, Vander Wal and Davis each had a service ace for DSU.
Tadlock tallied a match-high 28 kills for the Tigers. She had a double-double with 12 digs. Taylor Spence added a double-double of 17 kills and 20 digs. Dana Misiaszek smashed 16 kills.
Michelle Van Epps had 31 assists for DWU. Emily Pengilly recorded 29 assists.
Maggie Stehly registered 32 digs for Dakota Wesleyan. Tadlock and Stehly each had a service ace.
DWU outhit DSU 68-59 in the match, but the Trojans hit better. Dakota State recorded a hitting percentage of .217 (59 kills with 21 errors in 175 attempts) compared to Dakota Wesleyan .147 hitting percentage (68 kills with 38 errors in 204 attempts).
The Trojans accumulated 30 block assists and 2 solo blocks (17 total blocks). The Tigers had five blocks (2 solo blocks and 6 block assists).
DSU was .948 behind the serving line, committing six errors in 116 attempts. DWU recorded .935 service percentage with seven errors in 107 attempts.
Dakota State swings back in the North Star Athletic Association conference play this weekend in North Dakota. The Trojans make their first stop in Dickinson, N.D., visiting Dickinson State (N.D.). First serve from the Scott Gymnasium is set for 8 p.m. (Central Time)/7 p.m. (Mountain Time).
Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director
