September 14, 2018

DUBUQUE, Iowa – Dakota State (S.D.) jumped to a 2-0 match lead over Peru State (Neb.) to kick off the Clarke (Iowa) Tournament Friday evening at Kehl Center.  The Trojans were unable to hold off Bobcats' comeback as PSC won in five-set thriller by the scores of 15-25, 22-25, 25-9, 25-23 and 15-12.

Dakota State dropped their overall record to 4-5.  Peru State improved to 4-10 overall record.

With DSU leading 16-13 in the first set, the Trojans scored seven straight points to widen their lead to 23-13.  Dakota State cruised to a 1-0 match lead after winning the first set at 25-15.  The Trojans outhit the Bobcats 14-8 in the opening set.  DSU hit .286 (4 errors in 35 attempts) compared to PSC .111 hitting efficiency (5 errors in 27 attempts).

Peru State raced to a 6-1 lead in the second set.  Dakota State answered back with a 17-7 scoring surge to overtake an 18-13 lead.  The Bobcats could get no closer than two points for the rest of set, as Maddie Polzin smashed a kill as DSU secured the second set 25-23 and extended their lead to 2-0.

PSC used another fast start to open the third set, sprinting to an 8-1 lead.  Peru State hit .344 (13 kills with 2 errors in 32 swings) to dominate the third set by the score of 25-9.  DSU was held to a negative .086 hitting percentage (6 kills with 9 errors in 35 attempts).

The fourth set saw a see-saw battle between Dakota State and Peru State.  The Bobcats had the biggest lead in the fourth set at 15-10 before the Trojans rallied back to cut PSU's lead to 23-21.  An attack error by Peru State and a kill by Kaylee Spreier (assisted by Nicole Sarringar) tied the fourth set score at 23-23, forcing the Bobcats to call a timeout. 

A pair of kills by Peru State's Yorgelys Jaspe forced the fifth and deciding set, earning at 25-23 fourth set victory.  The Bobcats hit .216 in the set (14 kills with 6 errors in 37 attempts) compared to the Trojans .171 hitting percentage (13 kills with 6 errors in 41 attempts).

Peru State opened up the deciding set with a 7-2 lead over Dakota State.  Trailing 13-8, the Trojans went on a 4-0 run to cut PSC's lead to 13-12.  The Bobcats secured the match after an attack error by DSU and a service ace by Arianna Waschkowski for a 15-12 victory.

Both teams had seven kills in the fifth set, but PSC hit better (.222 – 3 errors in 18 swings).  DSU hit .136 (4 errors in 22 attempts).

Samantha Zell led the Trojans offense with 15 kills.  She also had two solo blocks.  Barbara Briceno posted a double-double of 11 kills and 15 digs.  Spreier had nine kills.  Polzin added eight kills.  Anna Schwint smashed seven kills. 

Sarringar contributed a season-high 44 set assists for Dakota State.

Alwaise Villa led DSU's defense with 16 digs.  She also had two service aces.  Briceno recorded two aces.  Polzin and Spreier each had a block assist.

Nadja Janjevic led the Bobcats with 12 kills and hit .500 in the match, committing just one attack error in 22 attempts.  She also had three solo blocks.  Jaspe added a double-double of 11 kills and 23 digs.  Hannah Sexton had eight kills. 

A pair of PSC setters produced double-doubles, led by Taylor Thompson with 22 assists and 13 digs.  Darlene Quinonez Holguin ad 17 assists and 10 digs.

Claire Cudney collected 19 digs for Peru State.

PSC hit .201 in the match (52 kills with 21 errors in 154 attempts).  DSU was held to .139 hitting percentage, smashing 55 kills and committed 30 errors in 180 swings.

Peru State went 95.1 percent from the serving ling (4 aces and 5 errors in 102 serves).  Dakota State registered a 91.3 service percentage (6 aces with 8 service errors in 92 attempts).

The Bobcats had eight team blocks compared to the Trojans three team blocks.

Dakota State concludes the Clarke (Iowa) Tournament Saturday afternoon, facing Graceland (Iowa) in the first match at 2 p.m.  The Trojans close out the tournament against the host-team Clarke at 4 p.m.  All matches are held at Kehl Center. 

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director