October 2, 2021

MADISON, S.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) played 12 straight matches away from the DSU Fieldhouse and played its home volleyball opener Saturday at DSU Fieldhouse.  The Trojans carried their best start in head coach Amy Veenhof's coaching era and extended their winning streak to four matches after a 3-0 North Star Athletic Association sweep over Dickinson State (N.D.).

Set scores were 25-17, 25-13, and 25-23.  Prior to the match, Maddie Polzin was recognized as the NAIA All-America Third Team while Peyton Groft was honored as she joined the 1,000-dig club from last season.

The victory also gave Veenhof her 200th career coaching win (14 victories at Si Tanka/Huron and 186 victories at Dakota State).  The Trojans hit their double-digit victory for the 11th time in the last 12 seasons.

Dakota State continued its best start with an overall record of 10-3 and 3-1 record in North Star contests.  Dickinson State fell to 1-18 overall record and 1-5 NSAA conference record.

The Trojans host Valley City State (N.D.) in another league contest Sunday.  First serve is set for 2 p.m. at DSU Fieldhouse.  Dickinson State returns home on Thursday as they host Mayville State (N.D.).

Dakota State (S.D.) 3, Dickinson State (N.D.) 0 – FINAL (25-17, 25-13, 25-23)

• The Trojans quickly kicked off the match with a 2-0 lead after a service ace by Madalyn Groft, followed by a ball handling error by the Blue Hawks.
• Trailing 5-4, DaSU went on a 5-0 scoring tear to earn a 9-5 lead after Riley Grandpre's kill and forced DiSU to call their first timeout of the set.
• Dakota State never trailed for the rest of the first set, winning 25-17 for a 1-0 match lead.  The Trojans hit .182 (10 kills with 4 error sin 33 attempts) compared to the Blue Hawks .100 hitting percentage (11 kills with 7 errors in 40 swings).
• Knotted at 5-5 in the second set, the Trojans went on a 5-0 scoring tear to widen their lead to 10-5. 
• A block assist by Hannah Viet and Polzin gave DaSU its biggest lead of the second set at 17-9. 
• Dakota State closed the second set by scoring the final seven points to earn a 25-13 victory, extending their match lead to 2-0.
• The Trojans hit .286 in the second set, smashing 11 kills with three errors in 28 swings.  The Blue Hawks registered a negative .161 hitting percentage with five errors and committed 10 attack errors in 31 attempts.
• Dakota State and Dickinson State went through a see-saw battle in the third set with seven ties and four lead changes.
• Tied at 22-22, Viet and Madalyn Groft recorded a block assist to give DaSU a 23-22 lead in the third set.
• Polzin followed up with a kill to set up a match point at 24-22 for Dakota State.
• Mackenna Johnson saved a match point with a kill as the Blue Hawks trailed 24-23.
• The Trojans secured the match victory with a kill by Viet, earning a 25-23 set three victory.
• Dakota State smashed 16 kills in the third set and recorded a hitting percentage of .268 (5 errors in 41 swings).  Dickinson State registered a hitting percentage of .316 (14 kills with 2 errors in 38 attempts).
• Sydney Schell produced a double-double of 12 kills and 17 digs for the Trojans.  She hit .381 in the match.  M. Groft added seven kills and two service aces.  She had a double-double of 13 set assists and 12 digs.
• DaSU's Polzin and Grandpre each had six kills.  Viet smashed five kills.  Nicole Sarringar contributed 17 set assists. 
• Peyton Groft tallied 13 digs for Dakota State.  Viet collected seven block assists.  Polzin had four block assists. 
• Baylie Dashner led the Blue Hawks' offense attack with 12 kills.  She hit .370 in the match.  Johnson added nine kills.  Bailey Pearcy recorded 29 set assists and eight digs. 
• Jenna Swope tallied 21 digs for Dickinson State.  Shaina Solon and Johnson each had three blocks.
• Dakota State outhit Dickinson State 37-30 in the match.  The Trojans hit .245 (12 attack errors in 102 swings) compared to the Blue Hawks .101 hitting percentage (19 attack errors in 109 attempts).
• DaSU was 93.2 percent from the serving line with three aces and five errors in 74 attempts.  DiSU recorded an 88.9 service percentage with three aces and six errors in 54 serves. 
• The Trojans had nine blocks compared to the Blue Hawks five blocks.

	Maddie Polzin 2021 Spring NAIA Volleyball All-America Third Team
	Peyton Groft 1,000-dig club

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director