March 26, 2021

MADISON, S.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) outhit Valley City State (N.D.) 43-29 to earn a 3-0 North Star Athletic Association volleyball sweep Friday evening at DSU Fieldhouse.  The Trojans held off the Vikings' furious comeback in the third set, winning by the set scores of 25-17, 25-15, and 31-29.

Dakota State improved to 13-8 overall record and 9-4 NSAA conference record.  DSU secured its winning home court record for the third consecutive year.  It was the first time since 2015 season that the Trojans completed a season series sweep of the Vikings.  Valley City State lost their 12th straight match, falling to 4-19 overall record and 3-11 record in the league.

The Trojans wrap up their regular season schedule Saturday afternoon, visiting Mayville State (N.D.) in a key North Star contest.  MSU defeated NSAA's conference leader No. 15-ranked Bellevue (Neb.) in five sets Friday evening (the Comets lifted their conference record to 10-3; DSU defeated MSU in the first NSAA conference meeting earlier this month). 

The battle of the NSAA postseason positioning is set for 4 p.m., with the junior varsity match slated for 2 p.m.  Both matches will be held at Lewy Lee Fieldhouse in Mayville, N.D.

Dakota State (S.D.) 3, Valley City State (N.D.) 0 – FINAL (25-17, 25-15, 31-29)

• Dakota State and Valley City State battled early with seven ties in the first 14 rallies.  Leading 9-8, the Trojans stretched its lead to 12-8 capped by a block assist from Amy Uher and McKenna Kranz.
• The Vikings answered back with four straight points to record the eighth tie of the first set at 12-12.
• DSU and VCSU added two more ties in the first set – 13-13 and 15-15.
• At 17-16, Dakota State outscored Valley City State 8-1 to close the first set.  The Trojans scored the final five points, securing a 1-0 match lead after Riley Grandpre's kill for a 25-17 win.
• The Trojans hit an impressive .341 in the first set (16 kills with 2 errors in 41 swings).  The Vikings were held to .073 hitting percentage (10 kills with 7 errors in 41 attempts).
• Dakota State stormed to a 7-1 lead in the second set, thanks to three kills from Maddie Polzin.
• Valley City State trimmed the Trojans' lead to 9-7 after Macey Kvilvang's kill.
• DSU used an 11-2 outburst to balloon their lead to 20-9.  During the outburst, the Trojans had back-to-back service aces by VonnaGail Schlechter and back-to-back kills by Madalyn Groft.
• Grandpre smashed a kill to secure a 25-15 second set victory, extending DSU's match lead to 2-0.
• DSU outhit VCSU 14-5 in the second set.  The Trojans hit .229 (6 errors in 35 swings) and held the Vikings to .037 hitting percentage (4 errors in 27 attempts).
• Leading 7-6 in the third set, Valley City State committed six straight attack errors to fuel Dakota State's 6-0 scoring run for a 13-6 lead.
• Kranz smashed a kill as the Trojans widen their lead to 22-13.
• Valley City State roared back by scoring nine straight points to tie the third set.  During VCSU's outburst, Katie Juarez hit four straight service aces, Kvilvang with three kills and a pair of kills by Bailey Nelson.
• The Trojans ended its scoring drought after an attack error by the Vikings, regaining their lead to 23-22.
• VCSU scored the next two points to set up a set point chance at 24-23.  M. Groft smashed a kill to save a set point, tying the third set at 24-24.
• Dakota State and Valley City State went through a see-saw battle in the next 10 rallies.  The Trojans saved four set points chances during those 10 rallies.
• Trailing 28-27, Kranz registered back-to-back kills to put DSU up 29-28.  Nelson smashed a kill as the Vikings tied the third set at 29-29.
• An attack error by VCSU gave DSU a match point opportunity at 30-29.  Hannah Viet closed the match with a kill for a 31-29 victory.
• DSU hit .107 in the third set (13 kills with 7 errors in 56 swings) and held VCSU to .000 hitting percentage (14 kills with 14 errors in 67 swings).
• Polzin powered the Trojans' offense with a match-high 16 kills.  She posted a double-double of 14 digs.  M. Groft added a double-double of 31 set assists and collected 12 digs.
• Grandpre added eight kills for DSU.  Viet tallied six kills and three block assists.  Uher and Kranz each registered two block assists. 
• Peyton Groft led Dakota State's defense with 20 digs.  Schlechter added nine digs and two aces. 
• Nelson led the Vikings with eight kills.  Juarez added seven kills, four service aces and 14 digs. 
• Kallene Klever contributed 13 set assists and posted a double-double of 10 digs for VCSU.  Jakenda Short added 11 assists.
• Dani Schwanke collected a match-high 24 digs for Valley City State's defense.  Maara Nelson added 11 digs. 
• Dakota State hit .212 in the match (43 kills with 15 errors in 132 swings) compared to Valley City State .030 hitting efficiency (29 kills with 25 errors in 135 attempts).
• The Vikings were 90.3 percent from the serving line with seven aces and six errors in 62 serves.  The Trojans recorded an 88.8 percent from the serving line with three aces and nine errors in 80 serves.
• DSU had five blocks compared to VCSU two blocks. 

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director