October 8, 2015

VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS

Photos by Tyler Flaagan

MADISON, S.D. – Briar Cliff (Iowa) outhit Dakota State (S.D.) 45-37 Thursday evening at DSU Fieldhouse, as the Chargers swept Trojans in three straight sets.  The Chargers cruised to a 2-0 lead (25-19 and 25-17) before holding on to a third set victory by the score of 27-25.

Dakota State fell to 13-12 overall record.  Briar Cliff, a member of the Great Plains Athletic Conference, lifted their overall record to 11-7.

The Chargers opened up the first set with a 14-6 lead.  The Trojans could get no closer than three points at 21-19 before BCU scored the final four points to gain a 25-19 opening set victory for a 1-0 match lead.  The Chargers hit .227 (15 kills with 5 errors in 44 attempts) while the Trojans hit .171 (11 kills with 4 errors in 41 attempts).

Briar Cliff scored the first five points of the second set, racing to a 21-9 lead.  The Chargers hit .303 (15 kills with 5 errors in 33 attempts) to gain a 2-0 match lead after winning the second set 25-17.  DSU was held to .103 hitting efficiency (11 kills with 7 errors in 39 attempts).

Dakota State kicked off the third set with a 7-2 lead.  The Chargers answered back with a 9-1 scoring run to overtake an 11-8 lead.  After tying or trading leads between DSU and BCU, Briar Cliff went on to grab a 23-20 lead and forced the Trojans use their final timeout of the third set.

The Trojans answered back with a 4-0 run for a 24-23 lead, thanks to a pair of kills by Kylie Martin and a block by Kirstin Johnson and Martin.  The Chargers saved a set point by DSU after a kill by Breanna Nogelmeier.

Trailing 25-24, DSU tied it at 25-25 after a kill by Martin.  The Chargers would close the match by scoring the final two points after recording a block by Nogelmeier and Melissa Ditter for a 27-25 third set victory.

There were 10 ties and 5 lead changes in the third set.

Carly Rozell posted a double-double of 11 kills and 11 digs for Dakota State.  Kiristin Johnson added eight kills.  Martin and McKenzie Werner each had six kills. 

Kaylee Vander Wal, who was recognized prior to the match after surpassing 1,000-assists club earlier in September, produced a double-double of 17 set assists and 11 digs for the Trojans.  Rachel Johnson added 12 assists and 9 digs.

Chelsey Davis collected 12 digs for the Trojans.  Allison Thielsen had 11 digs.

Kirstin Johnson had five block assists for DSU.  Tessa Weeldreyer registered four block assists and a service ace.  Alicia Karst, Rozell and Martin each recorded three block assists.

Nogelmeier smashed 14 kills and recorded a solo block and four block assists for the Chargers.  Ditter and Katelin Langel each had nine kills.  Ruthie Schmitt tallied 39 assists.

Amy Frank earned 31 digs for Briar Cliff.  Schmitt, Frank and Lauren Rossie each had a service ace.

Briar Cliff hit .215 in the match (45 kills with 17 errors in 130 attempts) compared to Dakota State .140 hitting percentage (37 kills with 19 errors in 129 attempts). 

DSU had 18 block assists in the match (9.0 blocks), but was called for five blocking errors.  BCU had two solo blocks, twelve block assists (8.0 blocks) and a block error. 

The Chargers recorded 64 digs compared to the Trojans' 62 digs.

Dakota State continues their eight-match home stand Saturday afternoon.  The Trojans return back to the North Star Athletic Association conference action, hosting the conference's newcomer Bellevue (Neb.).  First serve is set for 1 p.m. at DSU Fieldhouse.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director