October 29, 2019

MADISON, S.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) outhit Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) 52-45 Tuesday evening at Christen Family Athletic Center in a non-conference volleyball match.  The Tigers took advantage of 31 DSU's attack errors, earning a 3-1 victory.  Set scores were 24-26, 25-9, 25-18 and 25-20.

Dakota State fell to 16-10 overall record.  Dakota Wesleyan lifted to 20-9 overall record.

The Trojans return to North Star Athletic Association conference action this weekend.  DSU stays on the road, visiting Waldorf (Iowa) on Friday evening at Hanson Fieldhouse.  First serve is set for 7 p.m. in Forest City, Iowa.  On Saturday, Dakota State takes on the conference leader's No. 6-ranked Viterbo (Wis.) at R.W. Beggs Gymnasium.  The match is set for 1 p.m.

Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) 3, (RV) Dakota State (S.D.) 1 – FINAL (24-26, 25-9, 25-18, 25-20)

• Dakota State and Dakota Wesleyan battled back-and-forth in the opening set.  With DWU leading 24-22, the Trojans were able to save two set points to knot the game at 24-24.  DSU extended its scoring run by scoring two more points after Briceno's kill and a block each by Samantha Zell and Hannah Viet for a 26-24 victory.
• The Trojans gained a 1-0 match lead after smashing 22 kills and held the Tigers to 10 kills.  DSU hit .245 (9 errors in 49 swings) while holding DWU to .195 hitting percentage (2 errors in 41 attempts).
• Dakota Wesleyan cruised past Dakota State in the second set, winning 25-9 to even the match at 1-1.  The Tigers did not commit an attack errors, recording 11 kills in 18 swings for an impressive .611 hitting percentage.  The Trojans recorded seven kills with eight errors in 26 attempts (negative .038 hitting efficiency).
• The Tigers raced to a 5-0 lead in the third set and widen their lead to 16-4.  Trailing 21-9, the Trojans mounted a comeback with a 9-3 run to cut DWU's lead to 24-18.  Callie Heath closed the third set with a kill, giving DWU a 25-18 victory and 2-1 match lead.
• Dakota Wesleyan used another fast start in the fourth set, leading 7-3.  The Trojans could get no closer than one point at 10-9, then the Tigers went on a 5-0 scoring run to widen their lead to 15-9.  DSU outhit DWU 14-10 in the fourth set but fell short by the score of 25-20.  DWU scored the final three points of the match to secure the victory.
• Maddie Polzin led the Trojans' offense attack with 15 kills.  She had a double-double with 10 digs.  Hanna Jellema added 11 kills.  Riley Grandpre had six kills.  Rachel Johnson had a double-double of 21 set assists and 10 digs.  Nicole Sarringar contributed 23 assists.
• Peyton Groft led DSU with 20 digs.  Briceno tallied 10 digs.  Zell and Grandpre each had three block assists.
• Rebecca Frick smashed a match-high 22 kills for the Tigers.  Emily Brunsing added nine kills.  Heath had eight kills and eight block assists.  Bridgett Knobbe produced a double-double of 42 set assists and 10 digs.  Mariah Gloe collected 24 digs. 
• Dakota Wesleyan hit .229 (45 kills with 13 errors in 140 swings) compared to Dakota State .131 hitting percentage (52 kills with 31 errors in 160 attempts).
• The Tigers had 11 service aces while the Trojans had two service aces.  DWU recorded 12 team blocks.  DSU had eight team blocks.
• DSU junior varsity team fell in two straight sets to DWU, finishing with an amazing 12-4 overall record this season.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director