November 3, 2018

DSU CELEBRATES AT MATCH POINT VIDEO

MADISON, S.D. – History was made Saturday afternoon in the North Star Athletic Association conference volleyball regular-season finale at DSU Fieldhouse.  Dakota State (S.D.) shocked the nationally-ranked No. 7 Viterbo (Wis.) with their first-ever conference defeat since joining the NSAA conference.  The Trojans defeated the V-Hawks by the scores of 25-19, 14-25, 25-23 and 25-23 on DSU's Senior Day.

Dakota State extended their winning streak to three matches, raising their overall record to 17-12.  The victory, coupled with Valley City State's (N.D.) home defeat to Presentation (S.D.) Saturday, secured the No. 3 seed (8-6 conference record) for the NSAA Volleyball conference postseason tournament to be held at Viterbo on Nov. 9-10.

Viterbo's historic North Star's conference winning streak of 53 matches came to an end.  The V-Hawks, who will be the top seed in the conference postseason tournament, are now 53-1 in NSAA conference play.

Dakota State snapped Viterbo's six-match winning streak.  Viterbo is 27-6 overall record and 13-1 in NSAA conference contests.

The Trojans posted its first-ever victory over the NAIA's Top 10 team from the North Star conference at DSU Fieldhouse.  In addition, DSU earned its second win over the NAIA's Top 25 teams this season (defeated at No. 20-ranked Bellevue, Neb. on Oct. 9).

FIRST SET

Dakota State jumped to a 5-1 lead in the opening set before Viterbo climbed back within one point at 15-14.  Leading 18-17, DSU used a 5-1 outburst to widen their lead to 23-18.

A kill by Samantha Zell followed by Barbara Briceno's service ace gave Trojans a 25-19 victory and 1-0 match lead.

Both teams smashed 13 kills in the first set.  DSU hit an impressive .313 (3 errors in 32 swings) and held VU to .194 hitting percentage (6 errors in 36 swings).

SECOND SET

Deadlocked at 3-3, Viterbo stormed to a 12-4 lead after a 9-1 scoring surge.  The V-Hawks ballooned their lead by 10 points at 18-8 before the Trojans scored the next five points to cut VU's lead to 18-13.

Coming out from the timeout, Viterbo closed the second set with a strong 7-1 run for a 25-14 victory and evened the match at 1-1.  The V-Hawks hit an amazing .467 (17 kills with 3 errors in 30 attempts).  The Trojans were held to .000 hitting efficiency (7 kills with 7 errors in 30 attempts).

THIRD SET

Viterbo raced to a 14-7 lead in the third set before Dakota State staged a furious comeback.  Trailing at 20-14, DSU roared back with a 7-1 scoring run to tie at 21-21 – thanks to a pair of service aces by Briceno and a kill each by Kelsey Pearson and Maddie Polzin.

After a kill by Miah Garant to put VU up 22-21, DSU scored three straight points by VU's three miscues to set up a set point chance at 24-22.  Garant added a kill as the V-Hawks trailed at 24-23.  Polzin smashed a kill as DSU gained a 25-23 come-from-behind win, earning a 2-1 match lead.

Both teams hit above .300 in the third set.  The V-Hawks outhit the Trojans 18-13.

FOURTH SET

Viterbo and Dakota State went through a see-saw battle in the fourth set, with lead no more than three points by the V-Hawks.  Down 20-18, the Trojans used a 5-1 surge to earn a 23-21 lead. 

Lydia Xu recorded a kill as VU cut DSU's lead to 23-22.  Polzin followed up with a kill to give DSU two match point opportunities at 24-22.  Garant smashed a kill to save DSU's match point (DSU led 24-23).

A service error by VU's Chloe Jakscht gave DSU a historic upset over the NAIA's Top 10 team at DSU Fieldhouse, earning a 25-23 thrilling victory.

Viterbo smashed 15 kills in the fourth set, but committed 10 attack errors in 46 swings for a hitting efficiency of .109.  Dakota State was held to .091 hitting percentage (10 kills with 6 errors in 44 attempts).

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

Polzin led Dakota State's offense attack with 13 kills and hit .321 in the match.  Briceno posted a double-double of 10 kills and 16 digs.  Zell and Pearson each tallied six kills.  Zell had three block assists.  Kaylee Spreier registered five kills.

Rachel Johnson produced a double-double of 24 assists and collected 10 digs for DSU.  Nicole Sarringar added 15 assists.

Alwaise Villa contributed eight digs for the Trojans.  Briceno had a match-high three service aces.  Naomi Larson added two aces.

Three Viterbo players produced double-digit kills, paced by Xu with 21 kills and hit .450 in the match.  Garant added 14 kills (.357 hitting percentage).  Aubrey Aspen had 10 kills (.369 hitting percentage).

Lauryn Sobasky had a double-double of 30 set assists and 12 digs for VU.  Jakscht had 25 assists and nine digs.  Rachel Frankowski led the defense with 13 digs.  Aspen had seven block assists.  Garant registered five block assists.

Viterbo outhit Dakota State 63-42 in the match.  The V-Hawks hit .267 with 24 attack errors in 146 swings.  The Trojans had 19 attack errors in 134 attempts.

Dakota State was 93.2 percent from the serving line, recording five aces and six errors in 88 serves.  Viterbo committed 10 service errors in 91 attempts.  DSU was perfect in reception rate (81 receptions, no errors).

The V-Hawks had eight team blocks compared to the Trojans four team blocks.  VU had 64 digs while DSU had 51 digs.

It was the final career collegiate home match for four DSU Trojan seniors – Briceno, Spreier, Villa and student assistant coach Kaity Barnes.

UP NEXT

Dakota State prepares for the North Star Athletic Association volleyball postseason conference tournament at R.W. Beggs Senior Gymnasium in La Crosse, Wis. on Friday.  The Trojans face No. 6 seed Dickinson State (N.D.) in the quarterfinal round at 10 a.m., with the winner moving on to the second session on the same day versus No. 2 seed Bellevue (Neb.) at 5 p.m.

Host-team Viterbo plays the winner of No. 4 seed Valley City State (N.D.) and No. 5 seed Mayville State (N.D.) – which is scheduled to play at 12 p.m. Friday.  VU plays at 7 p.m. in the second semifinals of the NSAA Volleyball postseason conference tournament.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director