October 9, 2019

BELLEVUE, Neb. – Dakota State (S.D.) rebounded back in the winning column Wednesday evening, concluding the first-half portion of the North Star Athletic Association volleyball conference schedule with a 3-2 upset victory over No. 15-ranked Bellevue (Neb.) at Gordon Lozier Center.  It was the DSU's first victory over the NAIA's Top 25 nationally-ranked teams this season (fell short to then-No. 12 Columbia, Mo. in five sets last month and No. 4 Viterbo, Wis. in four sets last Saturday).

DSU's victory also ended Bellevue's six-match winning streak.  It was also the third straight meeting that the Trojans defeated the Bruins who were ranked in the NAIA Volleyball Coaches' Top 25 national poll (twice last year).  The Trojans also handed the Bruins its first home defeat in ten matches this season (BU is currently 9-1 record at home this season after this match).

Dakota State, receiving votes in the latest national poll for the first time in program history, won for the eighth time in the last ten matches to raise their overall record to 12-7.  Bellevue fell to 17-5 overall record.

The Trojans – who improved to 5-1 record on the road this season – are currently tied for first-place with No. 4-ranked Viterbo (Wis.) in the NSAA volleyball conference standings with a 6-1 record.  The Bruins fell to a sole possession for third-place with a 5-2 record.

Dakota State stays on the road Tuesday as they visit in-state rival Mount Marty (S.D.) in a non-conference match.  The junior varsity match kicks off at 6 p.m., followed by the varsity match at 7:30 p.m.  Both matches will be held at Cimpl Arena in Yankton.

(RV) Dakota State (S.D.) 3, (15) Bellevue (Neb.) 2 – FINAL (21-25, 25-19, 25-16, 13-25, 15-11)

• Dakota State opened with a 13-7 lead in the opening set, forcing Bellevue to call its first timeout.  The Bruins then would use a strong 18-8 closing run to secure a 1-0 match lead after securing the first set at 25-21. 
• The Bruins outhit the Trojans 17-15 in the first set.  BU hit an impressive .378 (3 errors in 37 swings) and held DSU to .195 hitting percentage, despite committing seven attack errors in 41 attempts.
• Knotted at 10-10 in the second set, DSU sparked an 7-0 scoring surge to grab a 17-10 lead and never looked back.  The Trojans hit .368 (16 kills with 2 errors in 38 attempts), rolling to a 25-19 victory to even the match at 1-1.  Bellevue hit .222 in the second set (15 kills with 5 errors in 45 attempts).
• DSU stormed to a 6-1 lead in the third set, thanks to three different hitters with a kill (Kelsey Pearson, Samantha Zell and Maddie Polzin).  Leading 17-13, the Trojans pulled away with an 8-3 scoring run win the third set at 25-16 to grab a 2-1 match lead.
• Dakota State hit an impressive .341 in the third set, smashing 17 kills and only committed three attack errors in 41 swings.  Bellevue was held to .095 hitting percentage with 10 kills and six errors in 42 attempts.
• With BU leading 15-12 in the fourth set, the Trojans only scored once in the final 11 rallies (BU 10-1 closing run) as the match was forced to the fifth and deciding set after BU's 25-13 victory.  The Bruins hit .333 (14 kills with 2 errors in 36 attempts) compared to the Trojans .156 hitting percentage (11 kills with six errors in 32 attempts).
• Dakota State and Bellevue went through six ties through 20 rallies in the fifth set.  With the fifth tied recorded at 7-7, the Trojans went on to score three straight points from a kill by Hanna Jellema, followed by a kill by Barbara Briceno and a block assist by Jellema and Payton Johanneson for a 10-7 lead.  The Bruins answered back with a 3-0 run to register the sixth tie of the fifth set at 10-10.
• Two straight kills by Briceno followed by Nicole Sarringar's kill and a solo block by Samantha Zell sparked DSU's 4-0 run to earn a match point at 14-10.  At 14-11, Jellema smashed a kill to secure a 3-2 thrilling victory for the Trojans.
• DSU outhit BU 9-6 in the fifth set.  The Trojans hit .286 (3 errors in 21 attempts) and held the Bruins to .000 hitting efficiency (6 errors in 26 swings).
• Two Trojan hitters recorded career-high in kills and hitting percentage, propelled by Jellema who had 20 kills and hit .441 in the match.  Kelsey Pearson added 13 kills and hit a match-high .500.  She also had four block assists.
• Briceno posted a double-double of 13 kills and collected 16 digs for Dakota State.  Zell smashed 10 kills and tallied six blocks (1 solo, 5 assists).  Johanneson had three block assists.
• Sarringar contributed a season-high 34 set assists for DSU's offense attack.  Rachel Johsnon added a double-double of 28 assists and 10 digs.
• Peyton Groft tied for her career-high 26 digs for the third time this season for the Trojans (versus Montana Western and Mayville State, N.D.).  Johnson and Groft each recorded a service ace.  Tayler Corey tallied 11 digs.
• Andrea Carson led the Bruins' offense with 23 kills.  Sierra Athen had a double-double of 15 kills and 14 digs.  Payton Fehringer smashed nine kills.  Olivia Galas had a match-high 54 assists.  Madi Evans recorded 15 digs.  Paige Holdsworth added 11 digs.  Riley Burcham and Holdsworth each had two aces.
• DSU outhit BU 68-62 in the match.  The Trojans hit .272 (21 errors in 173 swings) compared to the Bruins' .215 hitting efficiency (22 errors in 186 attempts).
• Dakota State collected 84 digs, while Bellevue had 68 digs.  The Trojans recorded nine blocks (1 solo, 16 assists) compared to the Bruins eight blocks (2 solo, 12 assists).

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director