November 23, 2019

Photos credit by Saint Mary (Neb.) Sports Information

LEAVENWORTH, Kan. – Nationally-ranked No. 22 Dakota State's (S.D.) historic season came to an end Saturday afternoon as they were swept by Saint Mary (Kan.) in the NAIA Volleyball National Tournament Opening Round at Ryan Sports Center.  Set scores were 25-17, 25-22 and 25-18.

The Trojans end their season with an overall record of 19-13.  DSU was making their first-ever NAIA Volleyball National Tournament Opening Round in program history as an at-large bid.  Saint Mary, who earned the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC), raised their overall record to 30-10 and earned a spot to the final site of the NAIA Volleyball National Tournament at the Tyson Events Center in Sioux City, Iowa on Dec. 3-7.

Saint Mary (Kan.) 3, (22) Dakota State (S.D.) 0 – FINAL (25-17, 25-22, 25-18)

• Both teams smashed 13 kills in the opening set, however, the Trojans committed 11 attack errors in 52 swings (.038 hitting percentage) as the Spires grab a 1-0 match lead.  SM hit .233 in the first set, recording just three attack errors in 43 attempts.
• The second set saw a see-saw battle with DSU and SM.  Trailing 13-11, the Trojans went on a 4-0 scoring tear to earn a 15-13 lead.
• Saint Mary scored nine of the next 11 points (9-2 scoring outburst) to regain their lead at 22-18.  Down 24-19, DSU saved three set point chances to cut SM's lead to 24-22.  Jessica Malizzi smashed a kill to close the second set at 25-22, extending the Spires' match lead to 2-0.
• SM outhit DSU 15-10 in the second set.  The Spires hit .225 (6 errors in 40 swings) compared to the Trojans .049 hitting percentage (8 errors in 41 attempts).
• Saint Mary raced to a 5-0 lead in the third set and never looked back after ballooning their lead to 9-2.  Dakota State could get no closer than two points at 15-13, capped by three consecutive kills by Hannah Viet, Payton Johanneson and Barbara Briceno.
• The Spires went on a 9-4 scoring run to set a match point at 24-17.  Maddie Polzin smashed a kill as the Trojans trailed at 24-18.  Anna Hester smashed a kill to secure a 3-0 match sweep over the Trojans after a 25-18 set three victory.
• Briceno produced a double-double of 11 kills and 15 digs for Dakota State.  Samantha Zell added 10 kills and hit .286 in the match.  Hanna Jellema tallied nine kills. 
• Rachel Johnson contributed 17 set assists and five digs for DSU.  Nicole Sarringar added 14 assists. 
• Peyton Groft had a match-high 21 digs for the Trojans' defense.  Polzin and Zell each recorded two block assists.
• Hester sparked the Spires' offense attack with a match-high 13 kills and hit .357.  Cali Odom added seven kills.  Hana Ronnebaum, Cody Offerle and Aly Camacho each registered six kills.
• Hayden Heuermann produced a double-double of 20 set assists and 15 digs for SM.  Ashley Van Gieson added a double-double of 13 assists and 10 digs.  Camacho collected 16 digs.  Malizzi recorded 15 digs.
• Saint Mary outhit Dakota State 44-35 in the match.  The Spires hit .221 (15 errors in 131 attempts) compared to the Trojans .074 hitting percentage (24 errors in 148 swings).
• It was the final career collegiate volleyball for three Trojan seniors – Barbara Briceno, Rachel Johnson and Samantha Zell.

All-time school records

• Rachel Johnson finished her stellar four-year career with 2,515 assists.  She is fourth all-time in the DSU volleyball school record book in total assists.
• Samantha Zell amassed a total of 355 blocks during her impressive four-year career at Dakota State.  Her 355 blocks ranks her third all-time in the Trojan volleyball school record book. 

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director