March 12, 2021

VALLEY CITY, N.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) played its first road North Star Athletic Association volleyball contest of the 2020-21 season outside of South Dakota on Friday evening.  The Trojans extended its winning streak to four matches after sweeping past Valley City State (N.D.) in three straight sets.  DSU won by the set scores of 25-22, 25-20 and 25-17.

Dakota State lifted their overall record to 10-5, their 10th time in the last 11 seasons that the Trojans recorded double digits victories.  The Trojans are also raised their league record to 6-2 (second in the NSAA conference standings).

Valley City State fell to 4-14 overall record and 3-6 NSAA conference record.  The Vikings lost their sixth consecutive match.

Both teams will meet for the second NSAA meeting at DSU Fieldhouse in two weeks on March 26.

Dakota State travels to Scott Gymnasium Saturday afternoon for another North Star match-up.  The Trojans take on Dickinson State (N.D.) with the first serve set for 2 p.m. (Central Time)/1 p.m. (Mountain Time).

Dakota State (S.D.) 3, Valley City State (N.D.) 0 – FINAL (25-22, 25-20, 25-17)

• The Trojans stormed to a 10-3 lead in the opening set, thanks to three kills recorded by Maddie Polzin. 
• An attack error by the Vikings gave DSU its biggest lead of the first set at 14-5.
• VCSU rallied back with a 14-6 scoring run to cut DSU's lead to 20-19 after a kill by Macey Kvilvang. 
• Leading 23-22, VCSU committed an attack error followed by a service ace by Tayler Corey gave DSU its 1-0 match lead after a 25-22 victory.
• Both teams struggled offensively in the first set, with each team recording 11 kills.  The Vikings hit .044 (9 attack errors in 45 attempts) while the Trojans were held to .024 hitting efficiency (10 attack errors in 41 swings).
• DSU used another fast start in the second set, fueling a 9-4 lead.  Polzin collected two kills and a service ace, while Gracie Kluever added a service during Trojans' fast start. 
• With DSU leading 10-5, Valley City State went on to score seven straight points capped by a block from Caitlyn Fischbach and Kallene Klever for 12-10 lead.
• Dakota State answered back with a 10-3 scoring tear, highlighted by back-to-back service aces by Polzin for 20-15 lead.
• VCSU went on a 5-0 run to knot the second set at 20-20 after back-to-back kills by Katie Juarez. 
• The Trojans secured the second set by scoring the final five points for a 25-20 victory.  VonnaGail Schlechter tallied three kills during the scoring run, closing the second set with a solo block by Hannah Viet.
• Dakota State outhit Valley City State 14-11 in the second set.  VCSU hit .243 (2 errors in 37 attempts) compared to DSU .136 hitting efficiency (8 errors in 44 swings).
• DSU and VCSU went through a see-saw battle in the third set, with the lead no greater than three points by the Trojans.
• Up 12-11, the Trojans outscored the Vikings 9-2 to widen their lead to 21-13.  The scoring run capped with back-to-back aces by Polzin followed by a kill by Riley Grandpre (assisted by Madalyn Groft).
• McKenna Kranz smashed a kill followed by kill by Polzin secured the match victory for Dakota State, winning the third set at 25-17.
• DSU hit .281 in the third set with 14 kills and 5 errors in 32 swings.  VCSU was held to .032 hitting percentage (8 kills with 7 errors in 31 attempts).
• Polzin smashed a match-high 16 kills for the Trojans.  She posted a double-double with 12 digs.  She also had a career-high six service aces.  Madalyn Groft added a double-double of 33 set assists and 14 digs.
• Schlechter smashed eight kills for DSU.  Viet added six kills and four blocks (3 solo, 1 assist).  Grandpre had six kills.
• Peyton Groft led Dakota State's defense with 21 digs.  Kluever tallied two service aces.  Madalyn Groft, Corey, and Peyton Groft each had a service ace.
• Juarez led the Vikings' offense attack with nine kills.  Fischbach added six kills.  Klever produced 17 set assists.  Jakenda Short added nine assists and eight digs.
• Maara Nelson and Dani Schwanke each registered nine digs for VCSU.  Fischbach and Juarez each added eight digs.  Fischbach had six block assists.  Kvilvang recorded five blocks (2 solo, 3 assists).
• DSU outhit VCSU 39-30 in the match.  The Trojans hit .137 (23 attack errors in 117 swings) and held the Vikings to .106 hitting percentage (18 errors in 113 attempts).
• Dakota State tallied 11 service aces in the match and registered a service percentage of 94.6 (4 errors in 74 serves).  VCSU was 90 percent at the serving line (2 aces with 6 errors in 60 attempts).
• VCSU had 10 team blocks (2 solos, 16 assists) compared to DSU 5 blocks (3 solos, 4 assists).

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director