September 17, 2019

PHOTO GALLERY:  Junior Varsity - Varsity - Photos credits by Cody Welu and Donald Weidler

MADISON, S.D. – The Dakota State Trojan volleyball team returned home at DSU Fieldhouse for the first time since Aug. 27, hosting Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) to kick off the homecoming week at DSU Fieldhouse.  The Trojans had ten more kills than the Tigers (47-37) but fell in three straight sets by the scores of 25-23, 25-12 and 33-31.

Dakota State fell to 5-6 overall record.  Dakota Wesleyan improved to 11-3 overall record.

The Trojans look to swing back in the winning column with a pair of road matches this weekend.  DSU opens the North Star Athletic Association conference season, visiting Presentation (S.D.) on Friday evening.  The junior varsity action starts at 4:30 p.m., followed by the varsity match at 6:30 p.m.  The matches will be held at the Strode Center in Aberdeen, S.D.

On Saturday, Dakota State travels to Lewy Lee Fieldhouse to visit Mayville State (N.D.).  Junior varsity action gets underway at 12 noon and varsity match at 2 p.m.

Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) 3, Dakota State (S.D.) 0 – FINAL (25-23, 25-12, 33-31)

• Knotted 3-3 in the opening set, Dakota Wesleyan scored six consecutive points to open up a 9-3 lead.  The Trojans stormed back with a 6-0 run to tie the first set at 9-9.
• Both teams went through 14 ties in the first set before the Tigers scored the final two points to claim a 25-23 victory (1-0 match lead by DWU).  DSU outhit DWU 14-12.
• Dakota Wesleyan cruised past Dakota State in the second set 25-12, earning a 2-0 match lead.  Each team had 10 kills in the second set.  The Trojans committed 10 attack errors in 40 swings (.000 hitting percentage), while the Tigers only had one attack error in 26 attempts (.346 hitting efficiency).
• DSU and DWU battled through a see-saw third set with 17 ties, with the lead no larger than three by the Tigers (the Trojans' biggest lead in the third set was two points).
• Dakota State had a 24-23 lead and could not convert their seven opportunities to extend the match to the fourth set.  Both teams were tied through 62 rallies (31-31) before DWU closed the match by scoring the final two points for a 3-0 match victory (33-31). 
• The Trojans smashed 23 kills in the third set and committed 15 attack errors in 71 swings (.113 hitting percentage).  The Tigers registered 15 kills with eight errors in 69 attempts (.101 hitting efficiency). 
• Barbara Briceno posted a double-double of 15 kills and 13 digs for Dakota State.  She hit .235 in the match.  Hanna Jellema smashed 12 kills.
• Rachel Johnson also recorded a double-double of 19 set assists and 13 digs for DSU.  Nicole Sarringar produced 24 assists. 
• Peyton Groft led the Trojans' defense with 19 digs.  Tayler Corey added nine digs.  Maddie Polzin had a service ace.  Riley Grandpre and Hannah Viet each had two block assists.
• Rebecca Fricke led the Tigers with a double-double of 13 kills and 22 digs.  Bridgett Knobbe also had a double-double of 33 assists and 12 digs.  Brittany Berquist had 11 kills.  Mallory Cooper tallied 15 digs.
• Dakota Wesleyan collected 12 team blocks in the match, led by Berquist with six block assists.  Emily Brunsing added five block assists.  Frick, Chaydon Metzger and Jadie DeLange each had three block assists.
• DWU hit .167 in the match with 37 kills and 14 attack errors in 138 attempts.  DSU had 47 kills with 33 attack errors in 164 swings for a hitting efficiency of .085.
• The Tigers were 95.1 percent from the serving line with two aces and four errors in 81 serves.  The Trojans recorded an 89.7 service percentage with one ace and seven errors in 68 attempts.
• Dakota Wesleyan defeated Dakota State 2-0 in junior varsity action (25-21 and 25-12).

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director

2019 Dakota State University Homecoming Royalty Court