October 24, 2019
Photos credit by Donald Weidler
MADISON, S.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) smashed 67 kills Friday evening, pounding out Presentation (S.D.) 3-1 in the North Star Athletic Association conference volleyball match at DSU Fieldhouse. The Trojans won by the scores of 25-15, 19-25, 25-18 and 25-20.
Dakota State won their third straight match, their 10th win in the last 12 matches to raise their overall record to 16-8. The Trojans (receiving votes in the latest NAIA Volleyball Coaches' Top 25 national poll) are also 8-2 record in the NSAA conference, tied with No. 13-ranked Bellevue (Neb.) for second-place in the standings. Presentation fell to 10-14 overall record and 4-6 NSAA conference record.
The Trojans had won six straight meetings with the Saints, as well as their 17th victory in the last 19 meetings.
DSU concludes their three-match home stand Saturday afternoon in another North Star conference. The Trojans host Mayville State (N.D.) with a junior varsity match at 12 p.m., followed by the varsity match at 2 p.m. Presentation heads to Gordon Lozier Center Saturday afternoon for a match with Bellevue at 1 p.m.
(RV) Dakota State (S.D.) 3, Presentation (S.D.) 1 – FINAL (25-15, 19-25, 25-18, 25-20)
- Knotted at 3-3 in the opening set, Dakota State sparked a 6-1 outburst to gain a 9-4 lead before Presentation was forced to call the first timeout. The Saints could get no closer than two points at 13-11 as the Trojans roared with a 12-4 closing run – including a 5-0 closing runs – to secure a 25-15 victory and 1-0 match lead.
DSU outhit PC 19-8 in the first set. The Trojans hit an astounding .533 by committing just three attack errors in 30 swings. PC was held to .111 hitting percentage (4 errors in 36 attempts). Barbara Briceno fueled the Trojans with six kills and hit .556 in the first set. Payton Johanneson and Hanna Jellema each added three kills.- The Saints raced to a 10-3 lead in the second set, thanks to three blocks by Alyssa Haberer, and forced the Trojans to call timeout. DSU could get no closer than three points at 11-8 as PC took advantage of Dakota State's 12 attack errors for a 25-19 victory, evening the match at 1-1.
- Presentation hit .259 in the second set with 10 kills and three errors in 27 attempts. Dakota State was limited to .000 hitting percentage (12 kills with 12 errors in 37 attempts).
- The Trojans went on a 5-0 scoring tear in the third set to break up a 3-3 tie into an 8-3 lead. DSU never trailed for the rest of the third set, pulling away for a 25-18 victory. Dakota State regained their match lead to 2-1.
Dakota State and Presentation battled back-and-forth with 10 ties through the first 22 rallies in the fourth set. Tied at 11-11, the Trojans went on an 8-1 scoring tear, highlighted by Jellema's three kills to give DSU a 19-12 lead. PC could get no closer than three points at 22-19.- Briceno smashed a kill (assisted by Rachel Johnson) to close the match for a 25-20 set four victory, securing the match victory for Dakota State. DSU outhit PC 19-10 in the fourth set.
- Three DSU hitters recorded double-digit kills in the match, propelled by Briceno with a double-double. She smashed a career-high 22 kills and collected a match-high 19 digs. She hit an amazing .447 in the match. She registered four service aces. Jellema added 11 kills. Riley Grandpre recorded 10 kills. Johanneson and Kelsey Pearson each tallied eight kills.
Johnson contributed a double-double of 28 set assists (match-high) and 11 digs for Dakota State. Nicole Sarringar added 27 assists and seven digs.- Peyton Groft recorded 16 digs for the Trojans. Johanneson had three blocks (1 solo, 2 assist). Briceno, Grandpre and Jellema each had two blocks.
- Lexi Begger and Kayla Wolfe each led the Saints with eight kills each. Haberer added seven kills. Brooke Swanson had 20 set assists. Allisen Nielsen recorded 13 assists. Laura Babcock led PC's defense with 13 digs.
- Dakota State hit .240 in the match (67 kills with 30 errors in 154 swings) and held Presentation to .142 hitting percentage (35 kills with 16 errors in 134 attempts).
- DSU was 92.5 percent from the serving line (4 aces with 7 errors in 93 serves). PC registered a service percentage of 91.1 percent (2 aces with 7 errors in 90 attempts).
- The Saints collected 11 team blocks in the match compared to the Trojans six blocks.
Dakota State improved to 11-3 overall record in junior varsity match after rolling to a 3-0 victory over Presentation. The Trojans won by the set scores of 25-16, 25-22 and 25-21.
Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director
