September 5, 2020

SALINA, Kan. – Dakota State (S.D.) limited Sterling (Kan.) to 15 kills through the first two sets Saturday afternoon, opening the 2020-21 volleyball season with a 3-0 sweep over the Warriors in the Kansas Wesleyan Invitational at Mabee Arena.  The Trojans outkilled the Warriors 47-25 in the match.

Set scores were 25-16, 25-20, 25-19.  It was the season-opening match for both teams.

Dakota State (S.D.) 3, Sterling (Kan.) 0 – FINAL (25-16, 25-20, 25-19)

• Madalyn Groft served five straight points to open a 5-0 early lead for Dakota State.  The Trojans recorded a kill from Abigail Van Ruler, Hannah Viet and Tayler Corey while Madalyn Groft added a service ace.
• Leading 9-7, DSU went on an 8-1 scoring tear to widen their lead to 17-8. 
• Dakota State smashed 16 kills and hit .314 to earn a 25-16 set one victory.  The Trojans held the Warriors to six kills and .065 hitting percentage.
• Trailing 8-5 in the second set, Dakota State stormed back with a 10-3 scoring run to earn a 15-11 lead after a kill by Maddie Polzin (assisted by Madalyn Groft).
• Sterling could get no closer than one point at 17-16 and 18-17.  Dakota State closed the second set with a 7-3 scoring run to secure a 25-20 victory and extended their match lead to 2-0.
• DSU outhit SC 13-9 in the second set.  The Trojans registered a hitting percentage of .179 compared to the Warriors .029 hitting efficiency. 
• Dakota State and Sterling went through a see-saw battle through the first 28 rallies, with the lead no greater than two points.  Leading 15-13, a kill by Polzin put DSU up at 16-13 and forced the Warriors to burn their first timeout. 
• The Trojans widen their lead to 22-17 after a kill by Corey and never looked back to secure the victory.  DSU won the third set by the score of 25-19 after Van Ruler's kill.   
• Dakota State smashed 18 kills compared to Sterling 10 kills in the third set.  The Trojans hit .255 and held the Warriors to .128 hitting percentage.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Polzin led Dakota State's offense attack with 14 kills and hit an impressive .433 in the match.  Viet added 10 kills and hit .318.  Madalyn Groft and Van Ruler each added eight kills.  Viet registered three block assists.  Van Ruler had two block assists. 
• Madalyn Groft produced 23 set assists and collected nine digs for the Trojans.  She also had four service aces in the match.  Nicole Sarringar had 10 assists and seven digs.
• Peyton Groft led the Trojans' defense with 13 digs.  She also had six set assists and two service aces.  Corey tallied 11 digs, three kills and two assists.
• Meghan Mickle had seven kills and eight digs for the Warriors.  Carmin Butterworth led the defense with 13 digs.  Breanne Akiu contributed 15 set assists and six digs.  Colleen Meffert had four block assists.

TEAM COMPARISONS

• Dakota State hit .248 in the match (47 kills and 17 errors in 121 attempts) and held Sterling to .077 hitting percentage (25 kills and 17 errors in 104 attempts).
• The Trojans recorded seven service aces in the match.  The Warriors had four service aces.
• DSU collected 57 digs compared to SC 42 digs.  Sterling had five team blocks to Dakota State four team blocks.

UP NEXT

Dakota State plays the second match of the tournament later this evening versus McPherson (Kan.).  First serve is scheduled for 8 p.m.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director