September 29, 2018

PHOTO GALLERY - Photos credits by Cody Welu and Nicholas Hauser

MADISON, S.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) smashed a season-high 77 kills Saturday afternoon, rolling to a 3-1 North Star Athletic Association conference victory over Mayville State (N.D.).  Despite falling 25-19 in the first set, the Trojans won the next three sets by the scores of 31-29, 25-20 and 25-20.

Dakota State won their fourth straight match and completed their homecoming week with a 3-0 record.  The Trojans raised their overall record to 9-7 and maintain a sole possession for third place in the North Star volleyball conference standings with a 3-2 record.  Mayville State fell to 10-10 overall record and 1-4 NSAA conference record.

FIRST SET

Mayville State took advantage of their fast start, scoring the first five points of the first set for a 5-0 lead.  The Trojans rallied back to tie at 12-12, but the Comets pulled away after using a 9-4 run for a 21-16 lead.

MSU took the first set 25-19 and a 1-0 match lead.  The Comets hit .289 with 12 kills and committed just one attack error in 38 swings.  The Trojans smashed 16 kills but committed seven errors in 49 attempts for a hitting percentage of .184.

SECOND SET

Dakota State and Mayville State went through a see-saw battle through the first 32 point of the second set.  Tied at 16-16, the Trojans went on a 4-0 run to earn a 20-16 lead.

The Comets would answer back with a 6-1 scoring run to overtake a 22-21 lead.  Each team alternated the next eight points, while Mayville State held at 26-25 lead.  A kill by Kaylee Spreier and a service ace by Maddie Polzin gave DSU a 27-26 lead.

MSU answered back with a pair of kills by Victoria Johnson for a 28-26 lead.  Samantha Zell and Barbara Briceno smashed a kill as DSU regained their lead at 29-28. 

A block by Johnson and Hannah Bliss saved DSU's set point as Mayville State tied the second set at 29-29.

Dakota State secured a thrilling second set at 31-29 after a kill by Anna Schwint and Briceno.  The Trojans knotted the match at 1-1.

DSU smashed 24 kills in the second set but committed 11 attack errors in 63 attempts for a hitting efficiency of .206.  MSU recorded 16 kills with 5 attack errors in 49 attempts for .224 hitting percentage.

A total of 16 ties were registered in the second set.

THIRD SET

Trailing 10-9 in the third set, Dakota State reeled off with six straight points (thanks to a pair of service aces by Briceno) to earn a 15-10 lead.  Mayville State answered back with a 5-0 run to tie at 15-15.

At 20-19, DSU closed the third set with a 5-1 outburst (with three kills coming from Briceno) to earn a 25-20 victory and 2-1 match lead.

The Trojans outhit the Comets 18-7 in the third set.  DSU recorded a hitting percentage of .163 (10 errors in 49 attempts) while MSU had a hitting efficiency of .077 (4 errors in 39 attempts).

FOURTH SET

Dakota State opened up with a 3-1 lead, then Mayville State went on a 5-0 run to earn a 6-3 lead.

Trailing 18-15, the Trojans stormed with a 10-2 closing run for a 25-20 victory and secured the match in four sets.  Briceno and Zell each had three kills during the Trojans' closing outburst.

DSU outhit MSU 18-10 in the fourth set.  The Trojans hit an impressive .310 (6 errors in 42 swings) while holding the Comets to .176 hitting percentage (4 errors in 34 attempts).

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

Four Dakota State players recorded double-digit kills in the match, paced by Briceno with her 11th double-double of the season.  She smashed a season-high 20 kills and collected 18 digs.  She also had a season-high four service aces.  Zell tallied her career-high 19 kills and hit .318.  Polzin had 14 kills.  Spreier added 10 kills.

Rachel Johnson sparked the Trojans' offense with 37 set assists.  Nicole Sarringar added 32 assists.

Alwaise Villa collected a season-high 31 digs for DSU's defense.  Peyton Groft registered 10 digs.  Zell had five block assists.  Gabby Herlyn recorded three block assists. 

Cassidy Miller led the Comets' offense with 11 kills and hit .370 in the match.  Bliss and Johnson each added 10 kills.  Jana Mehus posted a double-double of 38 assists and 12 digs. 

Jayden Warner led MSU's defense with 29 digs.  Mason Hart added 18 digs and two service aces.  Miller and Johnson each had four block assists.  Bliss and Mehus each registered three block assists.

Dakota State hit .212 in the match (77 kills with 34 errors in 203 attempts).  Mayville State recorded a hitting efficiency of .194 (45 kills with 14 errors in 160 swings).

The Comets were near perfect at the serving line, committing just one service error in 95 attempts (98.9 percent).  MSU had two service aces.  The Trojans were 93.9 percent from the serving line with seven aces and six errors in 99 serves.

Mayville State collected 8.5 blocks (17 block assists) compared to Dakota State 6.0 blocks (1 solo block, 10 block assists).

Both teams will meet in Mayville, N.D. on Oct. 20 for the second NSAA conference meeting.

The Comets won the junior varsity match in three sets by the scores of 14-25, 25-22 and 25-21.

UP NEXT

Dakota State looks to complete their four-match home stand undefeated Wednesday evening.  The Trojans host in-state rival Mount Marty (S.D.) in a non-conference action.  There will be a junior varsity match at 6 p.m., followed a varsity match at 7:30 p.m.  Both matches will be held at DSU Fieldhouse.

Mayville State returns home Wednesday as they continue their North Star conference action.  The Comets host Valley City State (N.D.) with a 7 p.m. match at Lewy Lee Fieldhouse in Mayville, N.D.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director