August 31, 2019

GLENDALE, Ariz. – Dakota State (S.D.) won their third straight 3-0 match Saturday afternoon on the second day of the Arizona Christian volleyball tournament on Arizona State's West Campus.  The Trojans swept Montana State-Northern in three straight sets before falling in the tournament's finale to host-team in four sets.

DSU finished the tournament with a 3-1 record, improving overall record to 3-2 after their first week of regular-season play.

Dakota State (S.D.) 3, Montana State-Northern 0 – FINAL (25-18, 25-15, 25-23)

• The Trojans smashed 47 kills in the match compared to Skylights (4-5 overall record) 25 kills, rolling to a 3-0 sweep for the third straight match.  DSU had seven blocks and six service aces compared to MSU-M two blocks and three service aces.
• Dakota State outhit Montana State-Northern 17-7 in the opening set, cruising to a 25-18 victory.  The Trojans hit .324 in the first set.
• DSU had another impressive hitting percentage of .355 in the second set by pounding 14 kills and committed just three attack errors in 31 hits.  MSU-M was held to .143 hitting percentage (9 kills with 5 error sin 28 attempts).
• Dakota State secured the third set by a slim margin (25-23), despite 11 attack errors (.125 hitting percentage – 16 kills in 40 attempts).  Montana State-Northern hit .129 (9 kills and 5 errors in 31 attempts).
• Hanna Jellema hit double-digit kills for the third straight match, smashing 15 kills for the Trojans.  She hit .345 in the match.  She also had eight digs and two block assists.
• Barbara Briceno added nine kills and nine digs for DSU.  She also had two service aces.  Maddie Polzin recorded eight kills. 
• Rachel Johnson had a match-high 22 set assists for Dakota State.  Nicole Sarringar had 12 assists.  Peyton Groft had match-highs 11 digs and three services aces.  Samantha Zell registered three blocks.
• Rylee Burmester led the Skylights with nine kills.  Elissa Lind added eight kills.      

Arizona Christian 3, Dakota State (S.D.) 1 – FINAL (25-16, 20-25, 25-21, 25-22)

• Dakota State outhit host-team Arizona Christian (5-2 overall record) 46-43, despite falling short in four sets in the tournament's finale.  The Trojans were held to .073 hitting efficiency after committing 35 attack errors in 151 swings.  Arizona Christian hit .126 in the match (25 errors in 143 attempts).
• ACU collected 12 team blocks.  Amanda Bakonyi had two solo blocks and eight block assists. DSU had nine blocks, led by Payton Johanneson with six block assists.
• The Firestorm registered 10 service aces, thanks to Marina Samaniego and Alyssa Fiero with three aces each.  The Trojans had six aces, led by Briceno and Sarringar with two aces each.
• Briceno posted her 22nd career double-double with 12 kills and 22 digs (match-high) for Dakota State.  Polzin added 12 kills.
• Groft tallied 11 digs for the Trojans' defense.  Johnson produced 25 set assists.  Sarringar recorded a double-double of 15 assists and 10 digs.
• Oriana Montoya led the Firestorm's offense with 11 kills.  Alex Douglas added 10 kills.  Samaniego had a double-double of 18 assists and 15 digs.  Macy Magri had 15 assists.  Delaney Harris led ACU's defense with 21 digs.

Dakota State returns back to the Midwest region and stays on the road Friday.  The Trojans visit Morningside (Iowa) in a non-conference match.  Junior varsity match is scheduled for 5:30 p.m., followed by the varsity match at 7 p.m.  Both matches will be held at RVSC-Allee Gym in Sioux City, Iowa.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director