October 19, 2021

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

MADISON, S.D. – Three Dakota State (S.D.) hitters hit double-digit kills Tuesday evening, wrapping up their four-match home stand with a 3-0 non-conference Dig Pink volleyball sweep over in-state rival Mount Marty (S.D.) at DSU Fieldhouse.  Set scores were 25-15, 25-23, and 25-23.

The Trojans, receiving votes in the latest NAIA Women's Volleyball Coaches' Top 25 national poll, raised their overall record to 14-5.  DSU earned its eighth straight victory over MMU in the series meeting, as well as their 13th win in the last 14 meetings.  Mount Marty fell to 7-16 overall record.

Dakota State recorded its eighth victory in the last ten matches.

Both teams will be playing their third meeting of the season next Tuesday at Cimpl Arena in Yankton, S.D.  The junior varsity, who also defeated the Lancers in three sets, kicks off at 6 p.m. followed by the varsity match at 7:30 p.m.  DSU won the first meeting earlier this season in the Peru State (Neb.) tournament.

Dakota State returns to North Star Athletic Association action this weekend, making its first stop at Scott Gymnasium on Friday evening.  The Trojans play Dickinson State (N.D.) with the first serve at 6 p.m. (Central Time)/5 p.m. (Mountain Time).

DSU heads to Valley City State (N.D.) on Saturday for another NSAA contest at 11 a.m.

(RV) Dakota State (S.D.) 3, Mount Marty (S.D.) 0 – FINAL (25-15, 25-23, 25-23)

• Dakota State and Mount Marty battled through four ties and two lead changes in the early going of the first set.  Holding a slim 7-6 lead, the Trojans went on a 4-0 spurt capped by Maddie Polzin's service ace balloon their lead to 11-7.
• A kill by Sydney Schell extended Dakota State's lead to 14-8, forcing Mount Marty to burn their first timeout of the first set.
• DSU closed the first set with a 5-0 scoring run, highlighted by a pair of kills by Polzin and a kill by Schell.  The Trojans grabbed a 1-0 match lead by securing a 25-15 set one victory.
• Dakota State outhit Mount Marty 14-7 in the opening set. 
• The Trojans and the Lancers went through a see-saw battle in the second set, featuring 13 ties and six lead changes. 
• At 23-23, a service error by Mount Marty followed by a service ace by Jenna Frank gave DSU a 2-0 match lead with a slim 25-23 set two win.
• The Lancers hit .244 in the second set (16 kills with 6 errors in 41 swings), while the Trojans hit .209 (15 kills with 6 errors in 43 attempts).
• Tied 8-8 in the third set, Dakota State used a 6-0 outburst to earn a 14-8 lead after a kill by Schell.  Hannah Viet collected two kills during the scoring run as well as a block assist.
• With DSU leading 19-11, the Lancers mounted a furious comeback with an 8-1 scoring run to cut DSU's lead to 20-19 after a kill by Morgan Stohlmann.
• MMU could get no closer than one point on three other occasions after back-to-back kills by Alex Ruth (21-20 and 22-21) and a kill by Ally DeLange and Gabby Ruth (24-23).
• Schell smashed a kill to secure the match after winning the third set at 25-23 for Dakota State.
• The Trojans tallied 16 kills in the third set compared to the Lancers 12 kills.
• Schell fueled DSU with a double-double of 14 kills and 16 digs.  She hit .419 in the match.  Polzin added 11 kills, three blocks, and two service aces.  Viet smashed 10 kills and registered six blocks.
• Madalyn Groft produced 21 set assists and tallied two blocks for DSU.  She also had a service ace.  Nicole Sarringar added 18 set assists and eight digs. 
• Peyton Groft recorded 11 digs for Dakota State's defense.  Frank had two service aces. 
• Gabby Ruth led the Lancers with 12 kills.  She had two blocks.  Allison Jones added seven kills.  Stohlmann and Alex Ruth each had six kills.
• Ally DeLange contributed a double-double of 29 set assists and 10 digs for MMU.  Zoie Bertsch had 10 digs.  Alexis Kirkman registered four blocks.
• Dakota State outhit Mount Marty 45-35 in the match.  The Trojans hit .232 (19 errors in 112 swings) compared to the Lancers .147 hitting efficiency (18 errors in 116 attempts).
• DSU was 97.3 percent from the serving line (5 aces with 2 errors in 73 serves).  MMU recorded a 90.5 percent from the serving line (2 aces with 6 errors in 63 serves).
• The Trojans had eight blocks in the match, while the Lancers had seven blocks. 

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director

Dig Pink
	Dig Pink Honorary First Serve