August 22, 2015
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – Dakota State (S.D.) concluded the Florida tournament Saturday with another split at the Fernandez Family Center. The Trojans were swept by Baker (Kan.) in the morning session, but bounced back in the tournament's finale with a three-set victory over Webber International (Fla.) in The Athletes Meals Volleyball Classic hosted by St. Thomas (Fla.).
Dakota State finished the tournament with a 2-2 record, including a 2-1 record against members of The Sun Conference (defeated Florida Memorial and lost to host-team St. Thomas Friday).
Baker (Kan.) 3, Dakota State (S.D.) 0 – FINAL
The Wildcats swept the Trojans in three straight sets by the scores of 25-16, 27-25 and 25-18 in Saturday's morning session.
Baker held Dakota State to minus .045 (6 kills with 7 errors in 22 attempts) in the opening set to earn a 1-0 match lead. BU hit .120 (8 kills with 5 errors in 25 attempts) in the first set.
The Wildcats won a see-saw second set with the Trojans, winning by two points at 27-25 to extend BU's match lead to 2-0.
Baker hit .300 (15 kills with 3 errors in 40 attempts) to secure the match with a 25-18 third set victory. DSU had 12 kills with 5 errors in 40 attempts for a hitting percentage of .175.
Carly Rozell led the Trojans with a double-double of 10 kills and 13 digs. Alicia Karst added seven kills. Tessa Weeldreyer and Kylie Martin each had four kills.
Rachel Johnson tallied 14 set assists for DSU. Kaylee Vander Wal had 11 assists.
DSU's Chelsey Davis collected 14 digs. Vander Wal, Hannah Bauer and Rozell each had a service ace.
Kirstin Johnson, Bauer, Rozell and Weeldreyer each recorded a block assist.
Kailin Cordes smashed 14 kills for the Wildcats. Ashley Sparks had 13 kills. Jenna Sackman produced 20 assists.
Kadie Baumgardner led BU's defense with 24 digs. Sparks and Cordes each had 12 digs.
Baker outhit Dakota State 46-31 in the match. BU recorded a killing efficiency of .327 (46 kills with 11 errors in 107 attempts) compared to DSU .112 hitting percentage (31 kills with 19 errors in 107 attempts).
Dakota State (S.D.) 3, Webber International (Fla.) 0 – FINAL
The Trojans bounced back in the afternoon session with a three-set sweep over the Warriors (25-11, 25-22, and 25-21).
DSU took advantage of WIU's 12 attack errors to cruise to a 25-11 first set victory, earning a 1-0 match lead. Dakota State held Webber International to minus .290 (3 kills with 12 errors in 31 attempts). The Trojans hit .167 (8 kills with 4 errors in 24 attempts) in the opening set.
The Trojans made it 2-0 after holding on to a 25-22 second set win.
Dakota State closed out the match after gaining a 25-21 third set victory, thanks to a .300 hitting percentage (14 kills with 2 errors in 40 attempts). Webber International hit .108 in the third set (13 kills with 9 errors in 37 attempts).
McKenzie Werner had seven kills and hit .353 in the match for DSU. Karst added six kills. Rozell had five kills.
Vander Wal led the Trojans with 13 set assists. Rachel Johnson had 11 assists and produced three service aces.
Davis earned 21 digs to lead Dakota State's defense. Kirstin Johnson had a solo block and two block assists. Weeldreyer recorded two solo blocks and a block assist.
Katie Scheuman and Sam Burton each had seven kills for the Warriors. Sophie Rossard had a double-double of 22 assists and 17 digs.
Michelle Calderon had 14 digs for WIU. Lauren Dehls added 13 digs and three service aces.
Dakota State hit .191 in the match, recording 33 kills with 12 errors in 110 attempts. Webber International had 28 kills, but committed 28 attack errors in 112 attempts for a hitting percentage of .000.
DSU returns back to the Midwest area and continues their road action Wednesday. The Trojans visit Morningside (Iowa) in a non-conference match at the RVSC-Allee Gym. There will be a junior varsity match at 6 p.m. First serve for the varsity match is set for 7:30 p.m. in Sioux City, Iowa.
Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director
