March 13, 2021

DICKINSON, N.D. – Trailing 2-1 in the match Saturday afternoon at Scott Gymnasium, Dakota State (S.D.) rallied back to win the final two sets to defeat Dickinson State (N.D.) in a five-set thriller.  The Trojans earned their fifth straight North Star Athletic Association volleyball match, dating back to Oct. 21, 2020.  Set scores were 25-19, 21-25, 19-25, 25-22 and 15-11.

Dakota State raised their overall record to 11-5 and 7-2 record in league (second place in the standings).  Dickinson State suffered their third straight defeat, falling to 5-8 overall record and 4-7 NSAA conference record.

The Trojans step aside their conference play on Wednesday evening, hosting the NAIA's top-ranked team Jamestown (N.D.).  There will be a junior varsity contest at 5 p.m., followed by the varsity contest at 7 p.m.  Both matches will be held at DSU Fieldhouse.

Dakota State (S.D.) 3, Dickinson State (N.D.) 2 – FINAL (25-19, 21-25, 19-25, 25-22, 15-11)

• Knotted at 7-7, Dakota State went on a 6-0 outburst to earn a 13-7 lead after an attack error by DiSU's Abby Moerkerke.
• A service ace by Gracie Kluever gave the Trojans its biggest lead of the first set at 23-13. 
• The Blue Hawks rallied back with a 6-0 run to cut DaSU's lead to 23-19.
• The Trojans secured the first set at 25-19 after back-to-back attack error committed by Moerkerke.
• Both teams struggled offensively in the opening, hitting with negative percentage.  DaSU hit minus .030 (7 kills with 8 errors in 33 swings), while DiSU recorded negative .029 (9 kills with 10 errors in 34 attempts).
• Dickinson State never trailed in the second set, leading from start to finish to even the match at 1-1.  Mackenna Johnson closed the second set with back-to-back kills for a 25-21 victory.
• Both teams smashed 10 kills in the second set.  The Trojans committed 12 attack errors in 40 swings (minus .050 hitting percentage).  The Blue Hawks hit .176 in the second set (4 errors in 34 attempts).
• DiSU raced to a 4-0 lead to start the third set. 
• DaSU's VonnaGail Schlechter smashed a kill to tie the third set at 9-9 before going through a see-saw battle.
• With Trojans leading 16-15, the Blue Hawks scored four straight points to earn a 19-16 lead and never looked back.  DaSU could get no closer than one point at 19-18 as DiSU closed the third set with a 6-1 run.
• Moerkerke smashed a kill to secure set three victory for the Blue Hawks at 25-19 and earned a 2-1 match lead.
• DiSU outhit DaSU 13-8 in the third set.  The Blue Hawks recorded a hitting percentage of .281 (4 errors in 32 attempts), while the Trojans were held to .032 hitting percentage (7 error sin 31 attempts).
• Dakota State took advantage of DiSU's three attack error, a kill by Maddie Polzin and a service ace by Kluever to spark a 5-1 lead in the fourth set.
• DiSU used a 5-1 run to knot the fourth set at 6-6 and went through back-and-forth battle.
• Trailing 22-20, Dakota State stormed back by scoring the final five points and forced the deciding set.  Hannah Viet sparked the scoring run with a kill, followed by a pair of kills by Polzin and a pair of miscues by the Blue Hawks.
• DaSU won the fourth set at 25-22, despite hitting .059 (12 kills with 9 errors in 51 swings).  DiSU was held to .044 hitting percentage (11 kills with 9 errors in 45 attempts).
• Dakota State and Dickinson State went through six ties in the first 22 rallies in the fifth set.
• Down 11-9, the Trojans roared with a 6-0 outburst to secure a thrilling five-set victory.  Polzin smashed a kill, followed by a service ace by Kluever, recording the sixth tie of the fifth set at 11-11.
• DaSU continued its scoring surge with a block by Madalyn Groft and Polzin for a 13-11 lead. 
• Riley Grandpre followed up with a kill to set a match point for the Trojans at 14-11.  Kluever closed the match with a service ace, securing a 15-11 victory for Dakota State.
• The Trojans hit .125 in the deciding set (5 kills with 3 errors in 16 attempts) and held the Blue Hawks to .000 hitting percentage (7 kills with 7 errors in 19 swings).
• Polzin paced the Trojans with 11 kills and three blocks.  Viet added 10 kills and seven blocks.  Grandpre registered eight kills and two blocks.  Schlechter had six kills and eight digs.
• Madalyn Groft produced a double-double of 32 set assists and 15 digs for Dakota State.  Peyton Groft added 15 digs and three service aces.  Kluever had a match-high four aces. 
• Johnson smashed 20 kills for the Blue Hawks.  She had a double-double with 14 digs.  Baylie Dashner had 13 kills.  Moerkerke added 11 kills. 
• Karlie Cleveland produced a double-double of 37 set assists and 15 digs.  Sarah Dobitz had 19 digs.  Chelsie Evans had 13 digs.  Shaina Solon collected seven blocks.
• Dickinson State outhit Dakota State 50-42 in the match.  The Blue Hawks hit .098 (34 errors in 164 swings) compared to the Trojans .018 hitting percentage (39 errors in 171 attempts). 
• DaSU collected 10 service aces with a service percentage of 95.3 (5 errors in 106 serves).  DiSU was 90.1 percent from the servicing line with three aces and 10 errors in 101 serves.
• DiSU registered 16 team blocks compared to DaSU 15 team blocks.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director