October 4, 2019

Photos credit by Donald Weidler

MADISON, S.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) smashed 54 kills and collected a season-high 14 blocks Friday evening, propelling the Trojans to a 3-1 North Star Athletic Association volleyball conference victory over Waldorf (Iowa) at DSU Fieldhouse.  The victory also extended DSU's winning streak to a season-high six matches, the longest winning streak since 2015 season (seven straight wins).

Dakota State, who received votes recognition in the NAIA Volleyball Top 25 national poll for the first time in program history, earned their seventh win in the last eight matches to raise their overall record to 11-6.  The victory coupled with No. 4-ranked Viterbo (Wis.) 3-1 loss at No. 15 Bellevue (Neb.) gave DSU its lone possession for first-place in the NSAA volleyball conference standings with a 5-0 record. 

It was the first time since joining the North Star conference (in 2013-14 season) that the Trojans started the league play with a 5-0 record.

Waldorf dropped their fourth straight match, falling below .500 with a 9-10 overall record and 2-3 NSAA conference record.

Dakota State concludes their five-match home stand versus nationally-ranked Viterbo Saturday afternoon.  First serve is set for 1 p.m. at DSU Fieldhouse.  Waldorf travels to Gordon Lozier Center to take on Bellevue at 1 p.m.

Dakota State (S.D.) 3, Waldorf (Iowa) 1 – FINAL (25-22, 25-17, 23-25, 25-19)

• Dakota State took a 14-12 lead in the opening set before Waldorf stormed with a 6-0 run for an 18-14 lead.  Trailing 20-16, the Trojans closed the first set with a strong 9-2 scoring run for a 25-22 victory.  Samantha Zell smashed a kill to give the Trojans a 1-0 match lead over the Warriors. 
• DSU hit .243 in the first set after recording 14 kills with five errors in 37 swings.  WU was held to .056 hitting efficiency (10 kills with 8 errors in 36 attempts).
• Tied at 6-6, Dakota State used a 6-2 surge to grab a 12-8 lead before Waldorf was forced to call a timeout.  The Trojans take a 2-0 match lead (Payton Johanneson closed the second set with a kill) after closing the second set with a 9-4 run for a 25-17 victory.
• DSU outhit WU 15-6 in the second set.  The Trojans hit .258 (7 errors in 31 attempts) and held the Warriors to .000 hitting percentage (6 errors in 29 swings).
• Both DSU and WU went through a see-saw battle in the third set, with the lead no more than four points by the Trojans (18-14).  Trailing 21-19, the Warriors went on a 4-0 run to take a 23-21 lead.  A kill by Hanna Jellema ended WU's scoring run, followed an attack error by WU's Kyra Platzek knotted the third set at 23-23.
• Abyail Wood and Platzek recorded a kill to close the third set for WU's 25-23 victory, extending the match into the fourth set with DSU leading 2-1.  The Warriors outhit the Trojans 18-15, with both teams hitting well above .200 (WU hit .289 compared to DSU .239).
• The fourth set saw another see-saw battle with the Trojans and the Warriors, with the lead no bigger than two points by both teams.  Tied at 18-18, Dakota State went on to score seven of the next eight rallies (7-1 closing run) to secure the match.  Barbara Briceno and Zell each recorded a block assist for a 25-19 victory.
• Both teams struggled offensively in the fourth set.  The Trojans hit .033 (10 kills with 9 errors in 30 swings) and held the Warriors to minus .059 hitting percentage (8 kills with 10 errors in 34 attempts).
• Three DSU players hit double-digits kills, led by Briceno with 14 kills.  She also posted a double-double with 15 digs.  Maddie Polzin and Jellema each added 12 kills.  Jellema hit .429 in the match, while Polzin hit .379.  Zell added eight kills.
• Zell tied the DSU single-match school record for most blocks, collecting a career-high 10 blocks (1 solo, 9 assist).  She tied with Kirstin Johnson (2015), Caitlin Pick (twice in 2014) and Stacy Dunklau (2005).  Johnanneson added four blocks (1 solo, 3 assist).  Polzin and Kelsey Pearson each added three block assists.
• Nicole Sarringar produced 30 set assists for the Trojans.  Rachel Johnson added 18 assists.
• Polzin, Johanneson and Brienco each had two service aces for DSU.  Peyton Groft tallied 17 digs. 
• Platzek led the Warriors' offense attack with 17 kills.  Wood added nine kills.  Savanna Cordle had eight kills.  Elisabeth Tramm produced 37 set assists. 
• Waldorf registered 11 service aces in the match, led by Platzek and Kelsey Sederquest with three aces each.  Channing Manske also had two aces, as well as 12 digs.
• Sederquest recorded a match-high 25 digs in the match for WU. 
• Dakota State outhit Waldorf 54-42.  The Trojans hit .203 (25 errors in 143 swings) and held the Warriors to .090 hitting efficiency (29 errors in 144 attempts). 
• DSU was 94.8 percent from the serving line, recording seven aces with five errors in 97 serves.  WU was 92.9 service percentage (6 errors in 84 attempts).
• The Trojans collected 24 block assists and two solo blocks.  The Warriors had six blocks (1 solo, 10 assists).  Dakota State had 66 digs compared to Waldorf 59 digs.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director