October 17, 2020

Photos credit by Donald Weidler

MADISON, S.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) was unable to wrap up their fall home volleyball schedule Saturday, despite a career-high 25 kills by Maddie Polzin in 3-1 North Star Athletic Association defeat to Dickinson State (N.D.) at DSU Fieldhouse.  The Blue Hawks registered 13 blocks in the match.

Set scores were 25-23, 25-23, 11-25, 25-20.

Dakota State fell to 6-5 overall record and 2-2 North Star Athletic Association conference record.  Dickinson State improved to 3-4 overall record and 3-3 NSAA record.

Dickinson State (N.D.) 3, Dakota State (S.D.) 1 – FINAL (25-23, 25-25, 11-25, 25-20)

• Both teams traded scoring runs in the opening set, where the Blue Hawks opened with a 15-11 lead after an attack error by the Trojans.
• The Trojans answered with a 7-1 scoring outburst, including four straight points – thanks to four kills by Polzin followed by a service ace by Madalyn Groft – to grab an 18-16 lead. 
• DiSU then answered back with four straight points to regain their lead to 20-18 after a kill by Abby Moerkerke.  DaSU went to score the next three points for a 21-20 lead after a service ace by Polzin.
• Dickinson State went on a 3-0 run to record a 23-21 lead and earned a set point at 24-22 after a kill by Ashlyn Hamilton.  The Trojans saved the set point by a service error committed by the Blue Hawks.
• Baylie Dashner smashed a kill to secure the first set at 25-23 for DiSU, earning a 1-0 match lead.
• The Trojans outhit the Blue Hawks 12-10 in the opening set.  Dickinson State hit .158 (4 errors in 38 swings) and held Dakota State to .068 hitting percentage (9 errors in 44 attempts).
• Dakota State and Dickinson State went another see-saw battle in the second set, with nine ties and lead no greater than three points by both teams. 
• Tied at 22-22, the Blue Hawks scored the next two points by an attack error by the Trojans and a service ace by Mackenna Johnson for a 24-22 lead.
• Polzin smashed a kill to cut DiSU's lead to 24-23.  The Blue Hawks secured the second set at 25-23 and extended their match lead to 2-0 after an attack error by the Trojans.
• Dakota State outhit Dickinson State 17-10 in the second set.  The Trojans were held to .140 hitting percentage (10 errors in 50 swings).  The Blue Hawks hit .174 (2 errors in 46 attempts).
• DaSU raced to a 5-1 lead in the third set, thanks to a pair of kills by Polzin and a kill each by Hannah Viet and Madalyn Groft. 
• The Blue Hawks could get no closer than two points at 6-4 and 7-5 as the Trojans stormed away to force the fourth set. 
• Leading 10-7, Dakota State roared with a 15-3 monstrous run to earn a 25-11 victory.  The Trojans hit an impressive .433 hitting percentage, with 14 kills and committed 1 attack error in 30 attempts.  Dickinson State was held to .029 hitting percentage (7 kills with 6 errors in 34 swings).
• The Blue Hawks exploded for a 5-0 lead to kick off the fourth set, thanks to back-to-back service aces by Karlie Cleveland. 
• The Trojans answered back with a 5-1 run to trim DiSU's lead to 6-5.  Dickinson State then went on a 7-3 run to widen their lead to 13-8 after a service ace by Hamilton.
• Dakota State could get no closer than three points at 15-12 before the Blue Hawks went on a 4-0 scoring run as their lead grew to 19-12.
• The Trojans cut DiSU's lead to 23-20 in the fourth set.  The Blue Hawks scored the final two points of the match to secure a 25-20 victory, ending the match with a block assist each by Johnson and Shaina Solon.
• Both teams struggled offensively in the fourth set.  Dickinson State hit .056 (11 kills with 9 errors in 36 swings) compared to Dakota State .030 hitting efficiency (8 kills with 7 errors in 33 attempts).

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Polzin posted match-highs of 25 kills and .389 hitting percentage (4 errors in 54 swings) for Dakota State.  She also produced a double-double with 10 digs.  She had a service ace and two blocks.
• Madalyn Groft contributed 32 set assists and eight digs for the Trojans.  She had three service aces.  Abigail Van Ruler had eight kills and three blocks.  Megan Wiggins added six kills.
• Peyton Groft paced DaSU's defense with 12 kills.  Tacey Fischbach added 11 digs.  Tayler Corey had nine digs and two service aces. 
• Dashner led the Blue Hawks' offense attack with 16 kills and hit .267.  She had four block assists.  Moerkerke had a double-double of 12 kills and 14 digs.
• Cleveland produced a double-double of 33 set assists and 10 digs for Dickinson State.  She had three service aces and two blocks.  Hamilton recorded six block assists.  Johnson had nine digs and five block assists.
• Sarah Dobitz led DiSU's with a match-high 24 digs.  Farrah Zeller added 10 digs.  Solon had six block assists. 

TEAM COMPARISONS

• Dakota State smashed 51 kills compared to Dickinson State 38 kills.  The Trojans hit better in the match, hitting .153 (27 attack errors in 157 swings), while the Blue Hawks hit .110 (21 errors in 154 attempts).
• DaSU was 90.2 percent from the serving line, recording six aces and nine errors in 92 serves.  DiSU recorded an 89.4 service percentage (8 aces with 9 errors in 85 serves). 
• The Trojans tallied 76 digs compared to the Blue Hawks 70 digs. 
• Dickinson State recorded 13 team blocks in the match (1 solo, 24 assist).  Dakota State registered five team blocks (2 solo, 6 assist).

UP NEXT

Dakota State is scheduled to travel to Strode Center in Aberdeen, S.D. on Wednesday evening for another North Star Athletic Association conference action.  The Trojans take on Presentation (S.D.) with a junior varsity match at 5 p.m., followed by the varsity match at 7 p.m.

Dickinson State wrapped up their fall volleyball schedule and await until March 12, 2021 as they travel to Viterbo (Wis.) for their next North Star Athletic Association conference action. 

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director