October 26, 2016

MADISON, S.D. – Four Dakota State (S.D.) hit double-digit kills Wednesday evening, extending their winning streak to three matches in a 3-2 thriller over in-state rival Mount Marty (S.D.) at Cimpl Arena.  The Trojans finished off their non-conference schedule by the scores of 25-15, 25-22, 24-26, 15-25 and 15-7 and completed the season series sweep over the Lancers.

Dakota State raised their overall record to 10-17, their third straight season with double-digit victories.  Mount Marty fell to 7-20 overall record.

The Trojans cruised to a 25-15 first set victory after hitting .344 (14 kills with 3 errors in 32 attempts) for a 1-0 match lead.  The Lancers were held to .086 hitting percentage (9 kills with 6 errors in 35 attempts).

Mount Marty started the second set with a 6-1 lead before Dakota State mounted a comeback.  Trailing 17-13, the Trojans scored four straight points to knot the second set at 17-17.  DSU would close the second set from Carly Rozell's kill (assisted by McKenna DeMoe) for a 25-22 victory, extending their match lead to 2-0.

Dakota State hit .174 in the second set (13 kills with 3 errors in 46 attempts) while Mount Marty hit .019 with 12 kills, committing 11 attack errors in 53 attempts.

Tied at 16-16 in the third set, the Trojans surged with an 8-3 run for a match point at 24-19.  The Lancers went on to score seven unanswered points for 26-24 victory, extending the match into the fourth set.  DSU outhit MMC 18-13 in the third set, but committed nine attack errors (.167 hitting efficiency in 54 attempts) compared to Lancers' four attack errors (.231 hitting percentage in 39 attempts).

With the fourth set knotted at 10-10, the Lancers stormed with a 15-5 scoring run for a 25-15 victory and forced the fifth decisive set.  MMC outhit DSU 14-8 in the fourth set.

The Trojans opened up with an 8-2 lead in the fifth set and never look back to secure the victory.  The Lancers could get no closer than 8-6.  DSU closed the deciding set with a 7-1 run for a 15-7 victory.

Dakota State hit .148 in the fifth set (6 kills with 2 errors in 27 attempts).  Mount Marty was held to minus .042 hitting percentage (5 kills with 6 errors in 24 attempts).

DeMoe registered season-highs of 31 assists and 20 digs for the Trojans.  Rozell added a double-double of 19 kills and collected 22 digs.  Tessa Weeldreyer smashed 13 kills, recording a hitting efficiency of .423.  Taylor Stratton and Kylie Martin each added 10 kills.  Martin hit .333 in the match.

Kaylee Vander Wal recorded 18 assists and 7 digs for DSU. 

Chelsey Davis had a match-high 30 digs for Dakota State.  Hannah Bauer added 13 digs.  DeMoe, Rozell, Weeldreyer and Davis each had a service ace.

Weeldreyer led the Trojans with five block assists.  Stratton and Kirstin Johnson each added three block assists.  Rozell and Annika Stephens each had two block assists.

Sierra Kloth tallied 19 kills for the Lancers.  Brooke Bennett added 13 kills.  Rachel Reiff had 10 kills.

Lindsey Jaixen and Amber Dysthe each had a double-double for MMC.  Jaixen had 20 assists and 12 assists while Dysthe recorded 20 assists and 17 digs.

Morgan Hay earned 29 digs for Mount Marty.  Maura Lynse added 22 digs.  Bre Thege had 15 digs.  Larissa Trainer recorded four block assists.

Dakota State hit .163 in the match compared to Mount Marty .105.  The Trojans smashed 59 kills with 26 errors in 203 attempts.  The Lancers recorded 53 kills with 32 errors in 200 attempts.

DSU had a .961 service percentage with five aces and four errors in 103 attempts.  MMC was .958 from the serving line with six aces and four errors in 96 attempts.

The Trojans had 107 digs compared to the Lancers 106 digs.  DSU had nine team blocks while MMC had six blocks.

Dakota State returns home this weekend for a pair of North Star Athletic Association (NSAA) matches.  The Trojans host Dickinson State (N.D.) Friday evening and No. 20-ranked Jamestown (N.D.) Saturday evening.  Both matches are scheduled for 7 p.m.

Seniors will be honored prior to the match on Saturday night as they play their final regular-season home match at DSU Fieldhouse.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director