March 6, 2021

MADISON, S.D. – Maddie Polzin smashed a career-high 29 kills and hit .373 in sparking Dakota State (S.D.) to a 3-1 North Star Athletic Association volleyball victory over Mayville State (N.D.) Saturday afternoon at DSU Fieldhouse.  The Trojans extended its winning streak to three matches.

Dakota State won by the scores of 25-23, 18-25, 25-22 and 25-19.

DSU lifted their overall record to 9-5.  MSU – receiving votes in the latest NAIA Volleyball Coaches' Top 25 national poll – suffered its second straight setback, falling to 16-7 overall record.  Dakota State moved into a tie for second place in the North Star conference standings with Mayville State with each team holding a 5-2 record.

Both teams will meet for the second NSAA meeting later this month in the regular-season finale before the conference postseason tournament.

Dakota State makes their first trip to North Dakota this weekend for another NSAA action.  The Trojans make their first stop at Valley City State (N.D.) on Friday evening.  First serve is set for 6 p.m. at W.E. Osmon Fieldhouse in Valley City, N.D.  DSU also makes their trip to Dickinson State (N.D.) next Saturday.

Mayville State returns home next weekend, hosting Viterbo (Wis.) Friday and Waldorf (Iowa) next Saturday.

Dakota State (S.D.) 3, (RV) Mayville State (N.D.) 1 – FINAL (25-23, 18-25, 25-22, 25-19)

• Polzin started the opening set by smashing 10 kills as Dakota State earned a 1-0 match lead, including back-to-back kills to start the match.
• The Trojans withdrew the Comets' late comeback, securing the first set at 25-23 after a block assist each by Riley Grandpre and Polzin.
• DSU outhit MSU 20-14 in the opening set.  The Trojans hit .292 (20 kills, 6 errors in 48 swings) compared to the Comets .275 hitting efficiency (14 kills, 3 errors in 40 attempts).
• Dakota State started quick in the second set with a 3-0 lead, thanks to back-to-back kills by Polzin. 
• Mayville State went on a 13-5 scoring run to grab a 13-8 lead.  The Trojans committed nine attack errors during the Comets' outburst.
• DSU answered back by scoring four straight points to cut MSU's lead to 13-12, caused by three straight miscues by the Comets.
• Leading 19-17, MSU closed the second set with a 6-1 scoring run to secure a 25-18 victory after Elora Passa's kill.  The Comets evened the match at 1-1 with the Trojans.
• Mayville State hit .225 in the second set after smashing 12 kills and committed three attack errors in 40 swings.  Dakota State was held to .000 hitting percentage (11 kills with 11 errors in 47 attempts).
• For the third straight set, Polzin kicked off the set with back-to-back kills.  The Trojans fueled to a 7-3 lead, capped by Gracie Kluever's service ace.
• The Comets answered with a 5-1 run to knot at 8-8 after Ashley Pyburn's kill. 
• Trailing 17-14, Dakota State roared with an 8-0 outburst to regain their lead to 22-17.  Polzin smashed four kills during the Trojans' scoring run, as well as a triple block by VonnaGail Schlechter, Grandpre and Polzin.
• With DSU leading 23-18, MSU went on to score four straight points with three kills from three different players (Lily Pyle, Passa and Natalie Hadrava) to trim Trojans' lead to 23-22.
• Grandpre smashed a kill followed by MSU's attack error secure a 25-22 set three victory for Dakota State.  The Trojans grabbed a 2-1 match lead after hitting. 302 in the third (16 kills with 3 errors in 43 swings).  MSU hit .250 (17 kills with 5 errors in 48 attempts).
• Dakota State used another fast start in the fourth set, racing to a 3-0 lead after a pair of kills by Polzin and a kill by Grandpre. 
• A kill by McKenna Kranz gave the Trojans its biggest lead of the set at 19-11.
• Mayville State went on a 5-0 scoring tear to trim Dakota State's lead to 19-16, thanks to three attack errors by the Trojans.
• DSU's Polzin smashed her 29th kill of the match by securing the match after a 25-19 set four victory over the Comets.
• The Trojans outhit the Comets 19-12 in the fourth set.  DSU hit .220 (6 errors in 59 swings) compared to MSU .146 hitting percentage (12 kills with 5 errors in 48 attempts).
• Polzin also had four block assists in the match for Dakota State.  Grandpre added 12 kills and five block assists.  Madalyn Groft contributed a season-high 54 set assists and collected 15 digs for a double-double.
• Schlechter tallied nine kills and recorded a season-high 14 digs for the Trojans.  Viet had eight kills. 
• Peyton Groft led the Trojans' defense with a season-high 30 digs.  Tayler Corey had 14 digs.
• Kluever registered a career-high three service aces for DSU.  Peyton Groft and Schlechter each added an ace.
• Passa posted a triple-double in the match with 27 set assists, 10 kills and 10 digs for Mayville State.  Victoria Johnson led the Comets' offense attack with 14 kills.  Pyle added 12 kills.
• Pyburn recorded nine kills and hit .320 in the match for MSU.  She had four block asssists.  Natalie Hadrava added eight kills and hit .375.  Rachel Hill had a double-double of 21 set assists and 10 digs. 
• Mason Hart had a match-high 32 digs for Mayville State.  Amy Seim added 17 digs.  Jordan Lucas had 16 digs.
• Dakota State outhit Mayville State 66-55 in the match.  The Comets hit .222 (16 errors in 176 swings) compared to the Trojans .203 hitting percentage (26 errors in 197 attempts).
• MSU was perfect at the serving line in 90 attempts.  DSU had five service aces and recorded a 94.6 percent successful rate at the serving line.
• The Trojans collected 5.5 team blocks compared to the Comets' four blocks.  Mayville State had 98 digs, while Dakota State had 89 digs.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director