October 7, 2016
MADISON, S.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) held nationally-ranked No. 4 Viterbo (Wis.) to its lowest hitting percentage during the North Star Athletic Association conference match this season on Friday evening at DSU Fieldhouse, but fell short in three sets. The V-Hawks won by the scores of 25-23, 25-15 and 25-19, despite hitting .187 in the match.
Dakota State fell to 6-14 overall record and 2-4 NSAA conference record. Viterbo extended their winning streak to 19 matches and 14 straight NSAA conference victories (dating from last season), raising their overall record to 22-2 and 6-0 NSAA.
The Trojans and V-Hawks went through a see-saw battle in the opening set, featuring four ties. VU opened up with an 18-14 lead before DSU mounted a comeback to take the first lead of the first set.
Trailing 20-17, Dakota State scored five straight points – with three attack errors from Viterbo – to grab its first led at 22-20. With DSU leading 23-21, the V-Hawks closed the first set with a 4-0 scoring run for a 25-23 victory.
DSU outhit VU 14-12 in the first set, but the Trojans committed nine attack errors (in 44 attempts for a hitting efficiency of .114). The V-Hawks recorded six attack errors (in 43 attempts for a hitting percentage of .140).
Viterbo raced to a 13-4 lead in the second set and never look back for a 25-15 lead, extending their match lead to 2-0. The V-Hawks outhit the Trojans 13-4.
VU took an 8-4 early lead in the third set before DSU trimmed their lead down to 13-12. At 22-19, the V-Hawks secured the match by scoring the final three points of the third set for a 25-19 victory.
Viterbo hit .244 in the third set with 17 kills and 7 errors in 41 attempts compared to Dakota State .143 hitting percentage (7 kills with 3 errors in 28 attempts).
Carly Rozell and Tessa Weeldreyer each smashed seven kills and tallied two block assists for the Trojans. Kylie Martin added four kills. Kaylee Vander Wal contributed 11 set assists and 9 digs. McKenna DeMoe had eight assists.
Chelsey Davis registered a match-high 22 digs for DSU. Clarissa Blick recorded seven digs. Kirstin Johnson had three block assists. Rozell had a service ace.
Natalie Geidel led the V-Hawks' offense with 15 kills and a hitting percentage of .357. She had four block assists. Siera Skow added seven kills. Amelia Grahn produced 33 set assists, collected 9 digs and recorded 6 kills. She also had a service ace.
Baylee Gross earned 21 digs for Viterbo. Chloe Jakschit added 10 digs. Emilee Wiersma had three block assists.
Viterbo - who leads the NSAA conference with a team hitting percentage of .268 this season - had 42 kills in 123 attempts (.187 hitting percentage) compared to Dakota State 25 kills in 112 attempts (.054 hitting percentage). Both teams committed 19 attack errors.
VU and DSU struggled from the serving line, recording below 90 percent. The Trojans recorded .864 service percentage with a service ace and eight errors in 59 attempts. The V-Hawks had a service percentage of .836 with two service aces and committed 12 service errors in 73 attempts.
Viterbo had 59 digs compared to Dakota State 57 digs. VU had 6.5 team blocks (13 block assists) while DSU had 5 team blocks (10 block assists).
Dakota State looks to bounce back in the winning column Saturday afternoon as they conclude their three-match home stand at DSU Fieldhouse. The Trojans host Waldorf (Iowa) in the NSAA match-up at 1 p.m. The Trojan Volleyball team will be recognizing their parents prior to the match as part of Parents' Day.
Viterbo will conclude their three-match NSAA road trip in three straight days with a match at Presentation (S.D.) Saturday afternoon. First serve is set for 1 p.m. at Strode Center in Aberdeen, S.D.
Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director
