November 1, 2017

MADISON, S.D. – Trailing 9-4 in the fifth and deciding set Wednesday evening at DSU Fieldhouse, Dakota State (S.D.) mounted a furious comeback by closing the match with an 11-3 run for a 3-2 marathon thriller over Presentation (S.D.) in a key North Star Athletic Association (NSAA) volleyball conference match.  The Trojans completed a season-series sweep over the Saints, winning both meetings in five sets.

Dakota State improved to 11-22 overall record and moved into a sole possession for sixth-place in the North Star conference standings with a 5-9 record (one match ahead of Dickinson State, N.D.).  Presentation fell to 18-11 overall record and 6-8 NSAA conference record (fifth-place in the conference standings).

FIRST SET

Both teams struggled offensively in the opening set, which saw 22 ties and 6 lead changes.  Dakota State opened up the match with a 9-3 scoring tear, but Presentation answered back with a 10-3 run to regain their lead at 13-12.

Down 19-17, the Trojans scored six straight points to grab a 23-19 lead.  The Saints roared back with 5-0 run to earn a set point at 24-23.  Dakota State saved two set points from Presentation.  At 26-26, DSU earned a set point at 27-26 after PC committed an attack error.

The Saints closed the first set by scoring three straight points for a 29-27 victory, thanks to a pair of attack errors by the Trojans.

Each team smashed 10 kills in the first set.  The Trojans committed 12 attack errors (minus .043 hitting percentage in 46 attempts) while the Saints had 11 attack errors (negative .021 hitting efficiency in 47 swings).

SECOND SET

Twelve ties and five lead changes were recorded in the second set, with the lead no more than four points by the Saints (at 6-2 in the early going).  With DSU leading 18-17, PC went on a 5-1 scoring run for a 22-19 lead.

Dakota State stormed back by closing the second set with a strong 6-0 run for a 25-22 victory and tied the match at 1-1.  During the scoring run, the Saints committed a service error, three attack errors while closing the set with a kill by Samantha Zell and a service ace by Alwaise Villa.

DSU outhit PC 14-11 in the second set.  The Trojans hit .191 (5 errors in 47 attempts) while the Saints recorded a hitting efficiency of .113 (5 errors in 53 attempts).

THIRD SET

Presentation and Dakota State went through 19 ties and 5 lead changes in the third set.  At 18-18, PC used a 7-2 closing run for a 25-20 victory and regained a 2-1 match lead.

Both teams struggled offensively, hitting below .100.  The Saints hit .070 (10 kills with 7 errors in 43 attempts) while the Trojans registered a hitting efficiency of .019 (11 kills and committed 10 attack errors in 53 swings).

FOURTH SET

PC and DSU went through a see-saw battle in the early going of the fourth set.  Leading 8-6, the Trojans earned the biggest lead of set at 20-11. 

Presentation mounted a comeback in late in the fourth set.  Dakota State led at 24-19, but the Saints saved five set points by the Trojans and trimmed DSU's lead to 24-23.  Carly Rozell smashed a kill for a 25-23 set four victory and forced the fifth and deciding set.

Dakota State outhit Presentation 19-14 in the fourth set.  The Trojans hit .229 (8 errors in 48 attempts) while the Saints hit .222 (4 errors in 45 attempts).

FIFTH SET

Presentation opened up with a 4-3 lead in the deciding set and went on a 5-1 scoring tear to grab a 9-4 lead.

The Trojans mounted a furious rally, outscoring the Saints 10-1 to earn a match point at 14-10.  PC saved two match points to cut DSU's lead to 14-12.

A service error committed by PC's Abigail Wahl gave DSU a 15-12 victory and a thrilling 3-2 victory.

Dakota State hit .250 in the deciding set (8 kills with 3 errors in 20 attempts).  Presentation registered a .150 hitting efficiency (6 kills with 3 errors in 20 attempts).

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

Rozell posted a double-double by smashing a match-high 17 kills and collected 19 digs for Dakota State.  It was her eighth double-double of the season.  Zell added 14 kills.  Kaylee Spreier and Anna Schwint each added nine kills.  Jazmayne Williams had seven kills.    

Rachel Johnson paced with a double-double with 25 set assists and 12 digs for the Trojans, her seventh double-double this season.  Kendra Steffen added 23 assists and 7 digs.

Williams led DSU's defense with 22 digs.  Bailee Steffensen added 18 digs.  Villa had 14 digs.  Spreier and Zell each had four block assists.  Rozell added three block assists.

Johnson, Mallory Testerman, Steffensen and Villa each had a service ace for Dakota State. 

Olivia Stet led Presentation with a double-double of 11 kills and 10 digs.  Jordyn Dekker and Kayla Wolfe each added nine kills.  Amber Cline had eight kills.

Maddie Goetz produced a double-double of 23 assists and 11 digs for the Saints.  She also had three service aces.  Wahl had 19 assists and 9 digs.

Joely Roe led PC's defense with a match-high 31 digs.  Mallori Rabenberg had 16 digs and 2 service aces. 

Jade Gallagher and Cline each had four block assists for Presentation.  Gallagher also had a solo block.  Dekker had three block assists.

Dakota State outhit Presentation 62-51 in the match.  The Trojans hit .112 (committed 38 attack errors in 214 attempts) while the Saints recorded a hitting percentage of .101 (30 errors in 208 swings).

DSU was 96.4 percent from the serving line with four aces and four errors in 112 serves.  PC was 91.0 service percentage with 6 aces and 10 errors in 111 attempts.

Dakota State collected a season-high 103 digs while Presentation had 98 digs.  Both teams had eight blocks.

A total of 67 ties and 19 lead changes were recorded in the match.

UP NEXT

Both Dakota State and Presentation will be facing Waldorf (Iowa) and No. 2-ranked Viterbo (Wis.) at home this weekend.  The Trojans continue their five-match home stand on Friday host the V-Hawks on Friday evening with a junior varsity match at 5 p.m., followed by a varsity match at 7 p.m.  The matches will be held at DSU Fieldhouse.

The Saints return home at Strode Center, hosting the Warriors on Friday evening with a first serve starting at 7 p.m.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director

Carly Rozell 1,000-dig club