September 10, 2021

PERU, Neb. – Dakota State (S.D.) outhit Mount Marty (S.D.) 36-21, coupled with DSU's 16 service aces to earn a 3-0 sweep to kick off the first day of the Bobcat Classic at Al Wheeler Activity Center Friday.  The two-day tournament is hosted by Peru State (Neb.).

The Trojans continued its dominance with the Lancers, winning its 12th meeting in the last 13 matches in the series meeting.  DSU also won its seventh straight meeting with MMU.  Both teams will be play home-and-away matches in late October.

Dakota State bounced back in the winning column, improving to 3-2 overall record.  Mount Marty fell to 4-5 overall record.

The Trojans face Bethel (Kan.) in the second match of the tournament with the first serve at 6 p.m.

Dakota State (S.D.) 3, Mount Marty (S.D.) 0 – FINAL (25-20, 25-8, 25-14)

• Dakota State and Mount Marty went through a see-saw battle through the first 35 rallies, with the Trojans holding a slim 18-17 lead.
• DSU went on a 4-0 scoring tear to widen their lead to 22-17, sparked by Maddie Polzin's kill followed by a service ace.  Sydney Schell capped with a kill to give the Trojans a five-point lead.
• Mount Marty answered with three straight points to cut Dakota State's lead to 22-20.
• The Trojans closed the first set by scoring the final three points to secure a 1-0 match lead after a 25-22 victory.
• MMU smashed 13 kills in the first set compared to DSU 12 kills.  The Trojans hit better with a hitting percentage of .167 and held the Lancers to .083 hitting efficiency.
• Dakota State opened the second set with an 8-3 lead, thanks to a kill by three different hitters (Madalyn Groft, Polzin and Riley Grandpre as well a service ace by Schell and Peyton Groft.
• The Trojans roared with a 14-1 monstrous run to balloon their lead to 22-4.  During the scoring run, M. Groft served five straight points, including a service ace. 
• At 14-4, Polzin scored eight straight points, thanks to her four service aces.  M. Groft, Schell, and Grandpe each also recorded a kill during the monstrous scoring run.
• Schell smashed a kill to close the second set at 25-8, extending DSU's lead to 25-8.
• Dakota State outhit Mount Marty 13-3 in the second set.  The Trojans hit an impressive .300 (4 errors in 30 attempts) and limited the Lancers to minus .033 hitting percentage (4 errors in 30 swings).
• At 7-6, DSU scored seven straight points to widen their lead to 14-6 after an attack error committed by MMU. 
• The Trojans never trailed for the rest of the third set, closing with a kill by M. Groft followed by a kill by Polzin for a 25-14 victory.
• DSU outhit MMU 12-6 in the third set.  Dakota State also hit an amazing .310 (committed three attack errors in 29 swings), while Mount Marty hit a negative .031 (7 errors in 32 attempts).
• Polzin paced DSU with a double-double of 10 kills and tallied 12 digs.  She racked up six service aces, which is tied for seventh most single-match service aces.  M. Groft contributed 15 set assists, eight kills (.538 hitting efficiency), and seven digs.  Schell added 13 digs and eight kills (.412 hitting percentage).
• P. Groft led the Trojans' defense with 15 digs.  Hannah Viet and Brooklyn Grage each added two blocks.
• Gabby Ruth led the Lancers with seven kills.  Alexis Kirkman added six kills.  Ally DeLange posted a double-double of 15 set assists and 10 digs.  Molly Brinkman had nine digs.
• Dakota State hit .253 in the match (36 kills with 12 errors in 95 swings).  Mount Marty was held to .010 hitting efficiency (21 kills with 20 errors in 98 attempts). 
• DSU's 16 service aces is tied for fourth most service aces in a single match.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director