October 3, 2015

Photos credits by Donald Weidler

MADISON, S.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) outhit Dickinson State (N.D.) 44-31 Saturday afternoon, gaining a 3-0 sweep on Trojans Days' homecoming volleyball match.  DaSU posted scores of 29-27, 25-15 and 25-14 in the North Star Athletic Association (NSAA) conference action, earning their second victory in the current eight-match home stand at DSU Fieldhouse.

Dakota State bounced back in the winning column, raising their overall record to 13-11 and 5-2 NSAA conference record.  The Trojans had won nine times in the last eleven matches.  Dickinson State fell to 4-14 overall record and 2-4 NSAA record.

Dakota State held a 24-20 lead in the opening set before Dickinson State used a furious comeback. The Blue Hawks saved Trojans' set points four straight times to tie the first set at 24-24.  Trailing 27-26, Dakota State scored the final three points of the first set for a 29-27 win and 1-0 match lead.

DaSU outhit DiSU 19-16 in the first set.  The Trojans hit .217 (9 errors in 46 attempts) while the Blue Hawks recorded a hitting percentage of .190 (8 errors in 42 attempts).  Both teams had 13 ties and five lead changes in the opening set.

Dakota State raced to a 10-2 lead in the second set and extended to the biggest lead at 17-6.  The Trojans never looked back as they cruised to a 25-15 victory and grabbed a 2-0 match lead.  DaSU hit an impressive .423 in the set (13 kills with 2 errors in 26 attempts), while holding DiSU to .000 hitting percentage (6 kills with 6 errors in 36 attempts).

Tied at 7-7 in the third set, Dakota State used an 11-2 scoring run to take a 17-9 lead.  The Trojans secured the match with a block by DaSU's Kirstin Johnson and Carly Rozell from DiSU's Sydney Bentz, cruising to a 25-14 third set victory.

Rozell led Dakota State with 14 kills and hit .313 in the match.  She had five service aces.  Kirstin Johnson added 12 kills and just committed 1 attack error in 22 attempts for a hitting percentage of .500.  Alicia Karst, McKenzie Werner and Kylie Martin each smashed four kills.

Kaylee Vander Wal produced a double-double of 22 assists and 11 digs for DSU.  Rachel Johnson added 13 assists. 

Chelsey Davis tallied a match-high 20 digs for the Trojans.  Allison Thielsen added 10 digs. 

Kirstin Johnson, Tessa Weeldreyer and Martin each had two block assists for Dakota State. 

Tessa Sian led the Blue Hawks' offense with eight kills.  Brenna Hansen and Shelby Gustafson each had seven kills.  Danielle Boyette posted a double-double of 24 assists and 14 digs. 

Maggie Green collected 11 digs for Dickinson State.  Sian had two solo blocks and a block assist.

Dakota State recorded a hitting percentage of .270 in the match (44 kills with 14 errors in 111 attempts).  Dickinson State hit .076 (31 kills with 22 errors in 118 attempts).

The Trojans recorded eight service aces compared to the Blue Hawks four service aces.  DaSU had six blocks, while DiSU had four blocks.

Dakota State continues their home stand at DSU Fieldhouse Thursday evening as they step aside of their North Star Athletic Association conference.  The Trojans host Briar Cliff (Iowa) with a junior varsity match at 6 p.m., followed by the varsity match at 7:30 p.m.

Dickinson State stays on the road Tuesday night as they visit Jamestown (N.D.) in the NSAA volleyball action.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director