September 11, 2020

JV PHOTO GALLERY - VARSITY PHOTO GALLERY

Photos credits by Cody Welu and Donald Weidler

MADISON, S.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) continued its dominance with in-state rival Mount Marty (S.D.) in a non-conference volleyball action at DSU Fieldhouse Friday evening.  The Trojans won their home opener in four sets by the score of 25-13, 16-25, 25-14 and 25-20.

Dakota State had won 11 times in the last 12 meetings with Mount Marty, extending their winning streak to six matches in the series meeting.

The Trojans matched its best start since the 2006 season with an overall record of 4-1.  The Lancers fell to 3-3 overall record, dropping their third straight match after opening the season with a 3-0 record.

Dakota State (S.D.) 3, Mount Marty (S.D.) 1 – FINAL  (25-13, 16-25, 25-14, 25-20)

• Dakota State erupted for a 7-1 lead to open the match, thanks to four kills by Maddie Polzin.  The Lancers were forced to call its first timeout of the first set.
• Mount Marty could get no closer than three points at 10-7 and 12-9.  The Trojans closed the first set with a monstrous 13-4 scoring run, including four consecutive kills (back-to-back kills by Hannah Viet, followed by a kill each by Madalyn Groft and Polzin) to win the first set 25-13.
• DSU hit an impressive .314 in the first set with 14 kills and committed just three attack errors in 35 swings.  MMU was held to .056 hitting percentage (8 kills with 6 errors in 36 attempts).
• Dakota State and Mount Marty went on a see-saw battle in the second set, with the score knotted at 13-13 after 26 rallies.
• The Lancers would close the second set with a 12-3 scoring surge to gain a 25-16 victory and evened the match at 1-1. 
• MMU outhit DSU 13-7 in the second set.  Mount Marty hit .241 in the set (6 errors in 29 attempts) and held Dakota State to .000 hitting percentage (7 errors in 25 swings).
• The Trojans used another fast start in third set, like the first set.  Dakota State reeled off eight straight points to explode for an 8-0 lead, thanks to five attack errors committed by the Lancers.
• DSU held the biggest lead of the third set at 23-10 before MMU went on a 4-0 run to trim Trojans' lead to 23-14.  After a service error by the Lancers, Polzin smashed a kill to secure a 2-1 DSU match lead after winning the third set 25-14.
• Dakota State had 10 kills and committed just two attack errors in 30 attempts (.267 hitting efficiency).  Mount Marty was held to minus .059 hitting percentage (7 kills with 9 errors in 34 attempts).
• The Trojans trailed as many as six points in the fourth set.  Down 17-11, Dakota State roared back by scoring nine straight points to earn their lead at 20-17.  During DSU's 9-0 scoring run, Mount Marty committed six attack errors.
• At 22-20, DSU secured the match by scoring the final three points of the fourth set for a 25-20 win.  A kill by Polzin (set by Nicole Sarringar) followed by a kill by Madalyn Groft (set by Sarringar) and a block each by Viet and Madalyn Groft gave DSU a 25-20 victory.
• Both teams had 11 kills in the fourth set.  MMU suffered 11 attack errors in 38 swings (.000 hitting percentage) compared to DSU five attack errors in 30 attempts (.200 hitting percentage).

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Polzin led the Trojans' attack with 12 kills and hit .300 in the match.  She also had three block assists and a service ace.  Abigail Van Ruler added nine kills and hit .304.  She had a season-high six block assists.  Riley Grandpre had five kills (.455 hitting percentage) and recorded six blocks (1 solo, 5 assists).
• Madalyn Groft produced her first double-double with 19 set assists and 12 digs for Dakota State.  She also had seven kills and two block assists.  Sarringar added 12 assists.
• Tayler Corey registered two service aces for DSU.  She also had 11 digs.  Peyton Groft collected eight digs.  Viet recorded six blocks assists.
• Gabby Ruth led the Lancers with a double-double of 13 kills and 10 digs.  Elizabeth Watchorn added nine kills and 19 digs.
• Amber Miller produced 16 set assists and six assists for MMU.  Erika Langloss added 10 assists and six digs.  Lexi Kirkman had six kills and five block assists.  Molly Brinkman tallied nine digs.

TEAM COMPARISONS

• Dakota State outhit Mount Marty 42-39 in the match.  The Trojans committed 17 attack errors in 120 swings (.208 hitting percentage) compared to the Lancers 32 attack errors in 137 swings (.051 hitting efficiency).
• The Trojans had a season-high 12.5 blocks (1 solo, 23 block assists).  The Lancers had six team blocks (12 block assists).
• DSU was 91.1 percent from the serving line with four aces and eight errors in 90 serves.  MMU was 89.0 percent from their serves with three aces and eight errors in 73 attempts.
• Mount Marty collected 54 digs compared to Dakota State 49 digs. 
• The Lancers won the junior varsity match in two straight sets over the Trojans by the scores of 25-23 and 25-22.

UP NEXT

Dakota State continues their three-match home stand on Wednesday evening at DSU Fieldhouse.  The Trojans host Bellevue (Neb.) in the North Star Athletic Association conference opener.  First serve is set for 7 p.m.  Swap 'Ur Swag will be the volleyball them on Wednesday evening.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director