September 20, 2016

MITCHELL, S.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) concluded their road stretch Tuesday evening at the Corn Palace, visiting Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.).  After the Tigers took the first two sets at 25-13 and 25-21, the Trojans stormed back to force the fifth set (winning 25-22 in set three and 25-21 in set four).  DWU won the fifth set 15-5, earning a 3-2 victory over DSU.

DSU fell to 2-12 overall record while DWU improved to 11-4.  The Tigers swept the season series with both matches going to five sets, winning at the DSU Fieldhouse two weeks ago (Sept. 6).

Dakota Wesleyan hit .476 in the opening set to grab a 25-13 victory.  Dakota State was held to negative .071 hitting percentage (7 kills with 9 errors in 28 attempts).

At 22-21, the Tigers scored the final three points of the second set for a 25-21 victory and 2-0 match lead.  Dakota State outhit Dakota Wesleyan 16-14, but the Tigers hit .303 compared to the Trojans .231.

DSU held a 23-22 lead in the third set.  The Trojans extended the match into the fourth set after a pair of kills by Tessa Weeldreyer and Carly Rozell, earning a 25-22 victory.  The Trojans had 14 kills and hit .282 in the third set compared to the Tigers 15 kills and .257 hitting efficiency.

Dakota State won the fourth set 25-21 to force the fifth and deciding set.  The Trojans had 14 kills and hit .297 in the fourth set while the Tigers recorded 16 kills and .263 hitting percentage.

Dakota Wesleyan raced to a 6-0 lead in the fifth set and never looked back.  The Trojans could not get any closer than four points at 6-2, as the Tigers closed the match with a 9-3 scoring run for 15-5 victory.  DWU had five kills and .333 hitting percentage in the fifth set compared to DSU 2 kills and committed eight attack errors with a minus .316 hitting efficiency.

Rozell led the Trojans with 18 kills and a hitting percentage of .300.  Clarissa Blick posted a double-double of 11 kills and 11 digs.  Kirstin Johnson had nine kills.  Weeldreyer smashed eight kills.

Kaylee Vander Wal produced a career-high 45 assists for Dakota State.    She also had two service aces and six digs. 

Chelsey Davis collected 20 digs for DSU's defense.  Johnson had four block assists.  Taylor Stratton had three block assists.  Blick and Weeldreyer each recorded two block assists.

Lauren Tadlock had a match-high 22 kills for the Tigers.  Katie Vetch added 12 kills.  Rebecca Frick recorded 11 kills.  Michelle Van Epps earned 53 assists and recorded eight digs.

Taylor Spence led DWU with 19 digs.  Dana Misiaszek had 15 digs.  Mallory Cooper had 10 digs.  Vetch recorded two solo blocks and four block assists.

DWU outhit DSU 63-53 in the match.  The Tigers hit .309 (20 errors in 139 attempts) compared to the Trojans .142 (30 errors in 162 attempts). 

Dakota State had six service aces and three service errors in the match.  Dakota Wesleyan recorded four aces and five service errors.  DWU registered 9.5 team blocks while DSU had 8 blocks.

Dakota State returns home Friday evening as they look to halt their losing skid.  The Trojans host Grace (Neb.) in the homecoming volleyball match at DSU Fieldhouse.  First serve is set for 7 p.m. in Madison, S.D.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director