November 12, 2021

PHOTO GALLERY - Photos credits by Cody Welu

WATERTOWN, S.D. – No. 11 ranked Bellevue (Neb.) overcame Dakota State's (S.D.) red-hot hitting in the first set Friday evening, erasing an 1-0 early deficit to a 3-1 match victory in the North Star Athletic Association volleyball semifinals held at Civic Arena.  Set scores were 18-25, 25-17, 25-17, and 25-15.  It was the fourth straight season that both the Trojans and the Bruins met in the NSAA volleyball semifinals round.

Third-seeded Dakota State, receiving votes at No. 27 spot in the final regular-season NAIA Women's Volleyball Coaches' Top 25 national poll, is 21-8 overall record.  Bellevue, number two seed in the conference postseason tournament, lifted their overall record to 23-6.

DSU awaits to hear from the NAIA National office Monday morning during a selection show, seeing if the Trojans will receive an at-large bid to the national tournament's opening round which is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 20 at campus sites.

Bellevue will play in the North Star Athletic Association tournament's championship match for the second straight year, meeting with top-seeded and No. 2 ranked Viterbo (Wis.) who defeated No. 4 Valley City State (N.D.) in three straight sets in the second semifinal match-up.  The NSAA championship match is set for 2 p.m.

(11) Bellevue (Neb.) 3, (RV) Dakota State (S.D.) 1 – FINAL (18-25, 25-17, 25-17, 25-15)

• Dakota State sparked a 4-1 opening lead, thanks to a kill by three different hitters – Riley Grandpre (twice), Sydney Schell, and Maddie Polzin.
• The Trojans' lead grew to 10-5 in the first set after an attack error by the Bruins.
• Taryn Tacheny and Polzin smashed back-to-back kills to give DSU its biggest lead of the first set at 17-10. 
• The Bruins answered with a 4-0 run with four consecutive kills by four different hitters – Nicole Meyer, Jacki Apel, Sierra Athen, and Haley Fleischman – to cut DSU's lead to 17-14.
• At 22-18, the Trojans closed the first set with three straight points to gain a 1-0 match lead.  Tacheny and Grandpre ended the firs set with a block assist each, securing a 25-18 victory.
• Dakota State hit an astounding .316 in the opening set with 16 kills and committed just four attack errors in 38 swings.  Bellevue was held to .098 hitting percentage (11 kills with 7 errors in 41 attempts).
• Tied at 3-3 in the second set, the Trojans went on a 4-0 scoring tear to open a 7-3 lead.  Polzin smashed a kill, followed by Hannah Viet's kill, Nicole Sarringar's kill, and a block assist each by Madalyn Groft and Viet to spark DSU's scoring run.
• Olivia Galas recorded a kill as the Bruins rallied back to knot the second set at 8-8.
• Trailing 10-8, BU roared with a 13-3 outburst to grab a 21-13 lead after a kill by Athen.
• Bellevue evened the match at 1-1 after winning 25-17 in the second set. 
• The Bruins hit .294 with 13 kills and committed three attack errors in 34 swings.  The Trojans were limited to .050 hitting percentage, smashing 12 kills and suffered 10 attack errors in 40 attempts.
• Bellevue raced to an 8-1 lead to open the third set, forcing the Trojans to burn a timeout.  Apel and Athen each had two kills during the scoring run.
• The Trojans answered with a 4-0 scoring run after the timeout, trailing 8-5.
• BU then went on to score six straight points to balloon their lead to 14-5 after a kill by Galas.
• Eve Fountain smashed a kill to give the Bruins its biggest lead at 19-8.
• DSU could get no closer than seven points at 24-17.  Fountain closed the third set with a kill, giving the Bruins a 2-1 match lead after a 25-17 victory.
• BU outhit DSU 17-9 in the third set.  The Bruins hit .333 (5 errors in 36 attempts) compared to the Trojans .111 hitting percentage (5 errors in 36 swings).
• Dakota State started the fourth set with a 4-1 lead, highlighted by a kill from Viet.
• The Bruins went on a 7-0 scoring surge to earn an 8-4 lead capped by a kill from Fleischman.
• Bellevue continued its scoring run, extending their lead to 14-6 wafter Athen's service ace.
• DSU could get no closer than seven points at 15-8 as BU secured the match with a 25-15 victory.
• Bellevue outhit Dakota State 15-9 in the fourth set.  The Bruins hit an impressive .419 (2 errors in 31 swings) compared to the Trojans .050 hitting percentage (7 errors in 40 attempts).
• Viet sparked the Trojans' offense attack with 13 kills and hit .462.  She also had two blocks.  Polzin smashed 11 kills.  Grandpre had eight kills and three blocks.
• M. Groft produced a double-double of 20 set assists and 10 digs for DSU.  Nicole Sarringar added 15 set assists and six digs.  Jenna Frank registered two service aces.
• Peyton Groft led Dakota State's defense with 22 digs.  Schell added 10 digs. 
• Three BU hitters recorded double-digit kills, led by Athen and Fountain with 13 kills each.  Apel added 12 kills.  Flesichman and Gallas each tallied seven kills.  Fleischman registered eight blocks.
• Galas carried the Bruins' offense with 42 set assists.  She also had eight digs.  Fountain recorded five blocks.
• Taylan Keefer collected 22 digs for Bellevue's defense.  Fountain added 20 digs to produce a double-double.
• Bellevue outhit Dakota State 56-46 in the match.  The Bruins hit .275 (17 errors in 142 swings) compared to the Trojans' .130 hitting efficiency (26 errors in 154 attempts).
• DSU was 97.3 percent from the serving line with two aces and two errors in 75 serves.  BU was 92.4 percent with an ace and seven errors in 92 attempts.
• The Bruins tallied 13 blocks in the match compared to the Trojans five blocks.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director