November 9, 2018

TOURNAMENT PAGE

La CROSSE, Wis. – Third-seeded Dakota State (S.D.) cruised to a 2-0 match lead over sixth-seeded Dickinson State (N.D.) in the first quarterfinal match of the North Star Athletic Association Volleyball Postseason Conference Tournament at R.W. Beggs Gymnasium Friday morning.  The Trojans held off the Blue Hawks' late comeback for a 3-1 victory (25-13, 25-17, 22-25 and 25-22).

The North Star Athletic Association Volleyball Postseason Conference Tournament is hosted by top-seeded Viterbo (Wis.).

Dakota State – which raised their overall record to 18-12 and 6-2 record on neutral site – moves on to the semifinals versus second-seeded and No. 25-ranked Bellevue (Neb.) Friday evening at 5 p.m.  Both teams split their NSAA season series, with both teams winning on the road.

Dickinson State is eliminated from postseason play, ending their season at 7-23 overall record.

FIRST SET

The Trojans scored the first four points and raced to a 7-3 lead over the Blue Hawks.  DiSU would cut DaSU's lead down to 14-10 and eventually 18-13.  Dakota State closed the first set by scoring seven consecutive points, cruising to a 25-13 victory and a 1-0 match lead.  Anna Schwint had a pair of kills, Kaylee Spreier and Barbara Briceno each added a kill and a service ace by Peyton Groft sparked Trojans' closing run.

Dakota State outhit Dickinson State 17-5 in the first set.  The Trojans hit an impressive .419 hitting percentage (4 errors in 31 attempts) and held the Blue Hawks to .150 hitting efficiency (2 errors in 20 swings).

SECOND SET

Dakota State and Dickinson State went back and forth battle in the second set, recording 13 ties and four lead changes.  Knotted at 14-14, the Trojans scored three straight points thanks to a pair of kills by Spreier and a service ace by Groft for a 17-14 lead. 

The Blue Hawks could get no closer than two points at 19-17 as the Trojan used another strong closing run to take a 2-0 match lead.  Dakota State scored the final six points (with three points coming from DiSU's miscues) of the second set for a 25-17 victory. 

DaSU had another impressive hitting percentage of .375 (14 kills and just committed two attack errors in 32 swings).  DiSU recorded a hitting percentage of .188 (10 kills with 4 errors in 32 attempts).

THIRD SET

Third set saw another see-saw battle with the Trojans and the Blue Hawks.  DiSU did not lead until 12-11 before the Trojans on a 6-2 scoring surge to take a 17-14 lead.

Dakota State extended their lead to 20-16, but could not close out the match.  Dickinson State used a 9-3 monstrous scoring run (scoring the final four points of the third set when Trojans led 22-21) for a 25-22 victory to extend the match into the fourth set. 

Dickinson State collected 15 wins in third set and recorded a hitting percentage of .243 (6 errors in 37 attempts).  Dakota State had 14 kills, but committed nine attack errors in 33 swings (.152 hitting efficiency).

FOURTH SET

Trailing 10-7 in the fourth set, Dakota State went on a 10-4 scoring tear to open up a 17-14 lead.  However, Dickinson State answered back with a 5-1 run to overtake a 19-18 lead.

Then, DaSU scored four straight points (a kill by Samantha Zell, a service ace by Spreier, block by Zell and Barbara Briceno and a kill by Schwint) to take a 22-19 lead.  The Blue Hawks could get no closer than one point at 22-21.

Schwint smashed a kill followed by a set error by the Blue Hawks gave Trojans three match opportunities at 24-21.  After a kill by DiSU, Briceno closed the match with a kill (assisted by Rachel Johnson) as DaSU secured the match 3-1 after a 25-22 set four win.

Dakota State outhit Dickinson State 16-11 in the fourth set.  The Trojans hit .229 (5 errors in 48 attempts) compared to the Blue Hawks .133 hitting efficiency (5 errors in 45 swings).

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

Dakota State used a balanced offense attack with four players in double-digit kills.  Briceno posted her 19th double-double of the season with 14 kills and 12 digs.  She hit .370 in the match.  Spreier added 14 kills and hit .345.  Zell had 11 kills.  Schwint tallied 10 kills and registered an impressive .400 hitting percentage.  Maddie Polzin had nine kills.

Nicole Sarringar paced the Trojans with 26 set assists.  Johnson added 23 assists.

Alwaise Villa collected 12 digs for DaSU.  Groft and Sarringar each recorded two service aces.  Johnson, Spreier and Briceno each had an ace.  Zell had three block assists.  Spreier, Briceno and Polzin each registered two block assists.

Kylie Hadley and Cassie North each had 10 kills for the Blue Hawks.  Keera Sookey recorded a double-double of 14 assists and 11 digs.  Karlie Cleveland added a double-double of 14 assists and 12 digs.  Makenzie Digesualdo had 12 digs.  Alyssa Wisher registered four block assists.

Dakota State have 20 more kills than Dickinson State in the match (61-41).  The Trojans hit better than the Blue Hawks (.285 compared to .179).  Both teams had six team blocks.

DaSU recorded seven aces and eight errors in 96 attempts (91.7 service percentage).  DiSU had four aces and four errors in 78 serves (94.9 service percentage).

UP NEXT

Dakota State plays Bellevue (Neb.) in the North Star Athletic Association Volleyball Postseason Conference Tournament's first semifinal match.  First serve is set for 5 p.m. at R.W. Beggs Gymnasium.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director