November 12, 2021

PHOTO GALLERY - Photos credits by Cody Welu

WATERTOWN, S.D. – Third-seeded Dakota State (S.D.) kicked off the North Star Athletic Association volleyball postseason tournament Friday morning by hitting .316 to defeat sixth-seeded Presentation (S.D.) at Civic Arena.  The Trojans won by the set scores of 25-14, 25-16, 19-25, and 25-17.

Dakota State, receiving votes in the NAIA Women's Volleyball Coaches' Final Top 25 poll, lifted their overall record to 21-7.  The Trojans won for the sixth time in the last seven matches.  Presentation ends their season at 15-14 overall record.

DSU moves on to the semifinals versus second-seeded and No. 11 ranked Bellevue (Neb.).  First serve is set for 5 p.m. in the evening session at Civic Arena.

(RV) Dakota State (S.D.) 3, Presentation (S.D.) 1 – FINAL (25-14, 25-16, 19-25, 25-17)

• Dakota State and Presentation battled through two ties in the first ten rallies of the first set.  Knotted at 5-5, the Trojans went on a 4-0 scoring run after a pair of kills by Sydney Schell, a kill by Madalyn Groft, and a service ace by Jenna Frank for a 9-5 lead.
• The Trojans extended their lead to 17-10 after another 4-0 scoring run capped by a block assist by Hannah Viet and Maddie Polzin.
• The Saints could get no closer than five points at 17-12 with a kill by Becca Payne.
• DSU closed the first set with an 8-2 outburst for a 25-14 victory.  The Trojans hit an impressive .353 (15 kills with 3 errors in 34 swings) and held the Saints to .194 hitting percentage (10 kills with 3 errors in 36 swings).
• DSU and PC opened the second set with four ties and three lead changes.  Leading at 7-6, Dakota State went on a 9-2 scoring surge to balloon their lead to 16-8 after a kill by Polzin.
• The Trojans closed the second set with a 4-0 scoring run for a 25-16 victory, ending with a block by Vanessa Schroeder and Riley Grandpre
• DSU extended their match lead to 2-0 after hitting .343 in the second set by smashing 14 kills and committed 2 attack errors in 35 swings.  PC was held to .159 hitting percentage (12 kills with 5 errors in 44 attempts).
• Tied at 4-4 in the third set, Allie White smashed a kill followed by a service ace by Sydney Miller to propel PC's 3-0 scoring run to open a 7-4 lead. 
• Presentation widens their lead to 12-5 after a kill by Ashley Alfonso in the third set.  The Trojans stormed back with a 5-0 scoring run to trim their deficit to 12-10, forcing the Saints to call its first timeout.
• Laura Babcock hit back-to-back service aces to stretch PC's lead to 18-13 in the third.
• Alfonso smashed a kick to secure a 25-19 PC set third victory, extending the match into the fourth set.
• The Saints outhit the Trojans 13-11 in the third set.
• Dakota State opened the fourth set with a 5-1 lead and never looked back to secure the match. 
• Polzin smashed a kill to close the match for a 25-17 victory.  DSU hit .324 with 16 kills with 4 errors in 37 swings in the fourth set.  PC was limited to .125 with 10 kills and committed 5 errors in 40 attempts.
• Three Trojans hit double-digit in kills, led by Schell with a match-high 16 kills.  She hit .342 in the match.  She posted a double-double with 18 digs.  Polzin added 13 kills, three blocks, and a service ace.
• Grandpre tallied 10 kills and four blocks for Dakota State.  M. Groft produced a double-double of 30 set assists and 11 digs.  She had six kills and two blocks.  Nicole Sarringar also had a double-double of 15 set assists and 12 digs.
• Viet recorded seven kills and five blocks for the Trojans.  Peyton Groft collected 18 digs. 
• Six Trojan players recorded a service ace in the match.  Jenna Frank led the team with three service aces.
• Becca Payne led the Saints' offense with 13 kills.  Alfonso added nine kills.  Kerstin Knopik and White each had eight kills.  Olivia Corey contributed a double-double of 23 set assists and 10 digs.  Sydney Miller had 16 assists, two service aces, and four digs.
• Babcock tallied 18 digs and two service aces for PC. 
• Dakota State outhit Presentation 56-45 in the match.  The Trojans committed 13 attack errors in 136 swings.  The Saints had 19 attack errors in 153 attempts (.170 hitting percentage).
• The Trojans were 94.6 percent from the serving line, recording eight aces and five errors in 93 serves.  The Saints posted a 90.4 percent successful rate from the serving line with seven aces and seven errors in 73 attempts.
• DSU collected 10 blocks in the match compared to PC three blocks.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director