October 11, 2016

OMAHA, Neb. – Three Dakota State (S.D.) registered double-digit kills Tuesday evening at Jim Classen Gymnasium, snapping a two-match losing skid with a 3-1 non-conference road victory over Grace (Neb.).  The Trojans won by the scores of 25-22, 25-21, 18-25 and 25-17.

The victory improved Dakota State's overall record to 7-15.  Grace fell to 9-12 overall record.

The Trojans and Royals battled through nine ties and five lead changes in the opening set.  Leading 22-21, Mackenzie Schultz served two straight aces for a set point at 24-21.  Clarissa Blick sealed the first set with a kill, earning a 25-22 set one win and 1-0 match lead.

DSU raced to a 6-1 lead in the second set before GU used a 6-1 run to knot at 7-7.  Dakota State and Grace went through five ties and four lead changes in the second set.  At set point (24-21, Kirstin Johnson smashed a kill to seal the second set victory 25-21 and extended DSU's lead to 2-0.

Dakota State outhit Grace 16-11 in the second set.  The Trojans hit .238 compared to Royals' .158 hitting percentage.

A total of seven ties were recorded in the third set.  The Royals pulled away after a 10-10 tie with a 15-8 closing run for a 25-18 victory, extending the match into fourth set.  GU outhit DSU 16-12.  Grace hit .293 while Dakota State recorded a hitting efficiency of .194.

After the Royals scored the first two points of the fourth set, the Trojans went on an 8-2 run and never looked back.  DSU secured the match by winning the fourth set at 25-17 while hitting .289 (14 kills with 3 errors in 38 attempts).  GU was held to .000 hitting percentage (8 kills with 8 errors in 38 attempts).

Blick led the Trojans with a double-double of 15 kills and 15 digs.  Kaylee Vander Wal added a double-double of 30 set assists and 12 digs.

Carly Rozell smashed 13 kills and hit .427 in the match for DSU.  Taylor Stratton had 10 kills and hit .400.  Samantha Zell registered nine kills.  Johnson had seven kills.

McKenna DeMoe produced 18 assists and recorded six digs for Dakota State. 

Chelsey Davis led the Trojans with 24 digs.  Hannah Bauer added 11 digs.  Annika Stephens and Johnson each had two blocks.

Bauer, Rozell, Davis and Schultz each recorded two service aces for Dakota State.

Taylor Thompson tallied 13 kills and hit .303 for the Royals.  Aaliyah Dumber added 12 kills and registered a hitting efficiency of .423.  Kara Peters and Becca Entz each had seven kills.

Amber Carlson collected 23 assists for GU.  Sydney Stevelinck had a double-double of 19 assists and 15 digs.

Chloe Corbett had 26 digs for Grace.  Corbett and Stevelinck each recorded two service aces.  Thompson, Dumber and Entz each had three block assists.

DSU outhit GU 57-48 in the match.  The Trojans hit .226 (21 errors in 159 attempts) compared to the Royals' .174 hitting percentage. 

Dakota State had eight service aces while Grace had five aces.  The Royals earned seven team blocks compared to the Trojans four team blocks.

Dakota State returns home Friday evening as they play No. 20-ranked Bellevue (Neb.) in the North Star Athletic Association (NSAA) conference action.  The annual 'Dig Pink' volleyball match is set for 7 p.m. at DSU Fieldhouse.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director