October 30, 2018

MADISON, S.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) jumped to a 2-0 match lead Tuesday evening at DSU Fieldhouse, holding off Briar Cliff's (Iowa) late comeback for a 3-1 non-conference volleyball victory.  The victory also snapped DSU's 12-match losing streak in the series meeting with the Chargers, with the last win on Sept. 16, 2011.

Dakota State raised their overall record to 15-12.  Briar Cliff fell to 11-15 overall record.

FIRST SET

Dakota State roared to a 7-1 lead and stretched their lead to 14-3 after scoring six straight points.  The Trojans, who had the biggest lead at 15-3, hit an impressive .310 hitting percentage to cruise to a 1-0 match lead after a 25-13 victory.

DSU smashed 12 kills – with 3 kills each by Samantha Zell and Barbara Briceno.  The Trojans also registered three service aces, with an ace each from Rachel Johnson, Maddie Polzin and Alwaise Villa.  BCU was held to .000 hitting percentage (8 kills with 8 error sin 32 attempts). 

SECOND SET

The Trojans used another fast start in the second set, racing to a 5-1 lead.  DSU held their lead steady through the second set before BCU trimmed their lead to 20-19.

Dakota State closed the second set strong with a 5-0 run for a 25-19 victory, earning a 2-0 match lead.  DSU outhit BCU 15-11 in the set, with five kills each by Zell and Briceno.

THIRD SET

Dakota State an Briar Cliff went through a see-saw battle in the third set, with the lead no more than five points late in the set.  Leading 17-16, the Chargers used a 7-3 run to earn a 24-19 lead. 

BCU secured the third set by the score of 25-21, extending the match into the fourth set (DSU led 2-1). 

Briar Cliff hit .229 in set (14 kills with 6 errors in 35 swings) compared to Dakota State .179 hitting efficiency (9 kills with 4 errors in 28 attempts).

FOURTH SET

DSU and BCU went through 24 ties in a back-and-forth battle in the fourth set.  The Trojans held a 24-23 lead, but the Chargers held DSU's match point and scored two straight points to earn a 25-24 lead.

Dakota State answered back by scoring two straight kills by Zell to regain their lead at 26-25.  A kill by BCU's Lexus Mosbrucker knotted the score at 26-26.

Zell added another kill to put DSU up at 27-26.  Kaylee Spreier closed out the match with a kill to give the Trojans a 28-26 victory and 3-1 match win.

Dakota State smashed 18 kills in the fourth set and hit .231 (6 errors in 52 swings).  Briar Cliff had 16 kills with 8 errors in 47 attempts for a hitting percentage of .170.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

DSU's Zell and Briceno combined for 30 kills in the match.  Zell recorded a match-high 16 kills and hit .406.  Briceno produced her 16th double-double of the season with 14 kills and 17 digs.

Spreier and Anna Schwint each tallied seven kills for the Trojans.  Polzin had six kills.

Johnson contributed 23 set assists for Dakota State.  Nicole Sarringar added 19 assists and nine digs.

Villa led the Trojans' defense with a match-high 25 digs.  Zell had seven blocks (3 solo, 4 assists).  Spreier and Polzin each had three block assists.  Johnson and Polzin each registered two service aces.

Courtney Schafer led the Chargers' offense attack with 12 kills.  Mosbrucker added seven kills. 

Delaney Meyer posted a double-double of 21 assists and 11 digs for BCU.  Maureen Imrie added 17 assists and nine digs.

Danielle Coronado had 13 digs for Briar Cliff.  Brooklyn Tolliver and Harlee Wagoner each added 11 digs.  Olivia Tomlin had three block assists.

Dakota State outhit Briar Cliff 54-49 in the match.  The Trojans hit .224 (20 errors in 152 swings) compared to the Chargers' .135 (28 errors in 155 attempts). 

BCU recorded a service percentage of .940 (1 ace with 5 errors in 84 serves).  DSU recorded a service percentage of .918 (7 aces with 8 errors in 98 attempts).

The Trojans tallied 10 team blocks (3 solo, 14 assists) compared to the Chargers' 5 team blocks (1 solo, 8 assists). 

UP NEXT

Dakota State continues their five-match home stand on Friday evening.  The Trojans kick off their Parents/Seniors weekend as they host Waldorf (Iowa) in the North Star Athletic Association conference match.  First serve is set for 7 p.m. at DSU Fieldhouse. 

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director