September 10, 2021

PERU, Neb. – Dakota State (S.D.) completed the first day of the Peru State (Neb.) Bobcat Classic with another 3-0 rout, sweeping Bethel (Kan.) in the second match of the tournament Friday at Al Wheeler Activity Center.  The Trojans swept the Threshers by the set scores of 25-20, 25-11, and 25-10. 

Dakota State lifted their overall record to 4-2.  Bethel, a member of the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference, fell to 4-4 overall record.

The Trojans conclude their preseason tournament tune-up with another pair of matches on Saturday.  DSU takes on another KCAC foe York (Neb.) at 11 a.m. and wraps up the tournament against host-team Peru State (Neb.) at 1 p.m.

Dakota State (S.D.) 3, Bethel (Kan.) 0 – FINAL (25-20, 25-11, 25-10)

• Dakota State and Bethel went through a see-saw battle in the first 20 rallies in the first set, tying at 10-10.
• The Trojans went on a 5-0 scoring tear to widen their lead to 15-10.  The Threshers would answer back with a 5-1 run to trim DSU's lead to 16-15.
• Savannah Mares recorded a service ace to put DSU up at 24-19.  Sydney Schell smashed a kill to secure the first set for Dakota State at 25-19, earning a 1-0 match lead.
• DSU raced to a 6-0 lead in the second set, sparked by a kill from Schell and Riley Grandpre along with a pair of service aces by Maddie Polzin.
• DSU hit .296 in the first set (13 kills with 5 errors in 27 attempts) and held BU to .088 hitting percentage (12 kills with 9 errors in 34 swings).
• Leading 9-5, the Trojans went on a 13-3 scoring run capped by a kill by Madalyn Groft for a 22-8 lead.
• Dakota State hit an astounding .370 (13 kills with 3 errors in 27 swings) to win the second set at 25-11.  Bethel was held to .000 hitting percentage (8 kills with 8 errors in 30 attempts).
• Despite falling 3-0 to start the third set, DSU scored eight consecutive points highlighted by back-to-back service aces by Polzin. 
• At 14-8, Dakota State used another strong scoring surge by closing the match with an 11-2 run for a 25-10 victory.  During the scoring surge, M. Groft recorded a service ace while Polzin registered four consecutive aces to put DSU up 24-9.
• Vanessa Schroeder smashed a kill to close the match for the Trojans, sweeping the Threshers in three straight sets.
• Both teams recorded eight kills in the third set.  DSU hit .222 (2 errors in 27 attempts) and held BU to .000 hitting percentage (8 errors in 34 swings).
• Dakota State racked up 13 service aces in the match, piling up for a total of 29 service aces Friday (16 vs. Mount Marty, S.D. earlier in the day).
• Polzin broke the DSU's single match for most service aces with 10 aces.  Five different DSU former players held the school record with seven service aces, with the last time held on Sept. 25, 2007, by Jenna Kostelecky versus Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.).
• The other five former DSU players that set a single-match service aces included Jennifer Ferrie (Dakota Wesleyan – Aug. 26, 2000); Amanda Vos (Jamestown, N.D. – Oct. 16, 2002); Monica Anderson (Dakota Wesleyan, Sept. 25, 2000); Jessica Wipf (Cardinal Stritch, Wis. – Sept. 15, 2001), and Micah Tolzin (Minot State, N.D. – Oct. 9, 2003).
• Polzin added five kills and nine digs in the match for the Trojans.  M. Groft had seven kills and hit .600.  She contributed 10 set assists.  Nicole Sarringar tallied 11 set assists and four digs.
• Schell led DSU's offense attack with 13 kills and hit .385.  She also posted a double-double with 10 digs.  Peyton Groft led the Trojans' defense with 17 digs.  Schroeder had two blocks. 
• Mia Loganbill smashed 10 kills for the Threshers.  Kaitlyn Shima and Mia Roman each had eight set assists.  Katey Wilhelm had six assists and 14 digs.  Julie Wilhite had four blocks.
• Dakota State hit .296 in the match (34 kills with 10 errors in 81 swings) compared to Bethel .031 hitting percentage (28 kills with 25 errors in 98 swings).

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director