September 15, 2021

BELLEVUE, Neb. – Nationally-ranked Bellevue (Neb.) overcame their early deficits in each set to earn a 3-0 sweep over Dakota State (S.D.) to kick off the North Star Athletic Association volleyball season Wednesday evening at Gordon Lozier Center.  Sets scores were 25-19, 25-21, and 25-19.

Dakota State fell to 6-3 overall record (0-1 NSAA conference record).  Bellevue, who moved up one spot from No. 12 to No. 11 in the latest NAIA Volleyball Coaches' Top 25 national poll Wednesday morning, ended their two-match losing skid to lift their overall record to 8-3 (1-0 NSAA).

The Trojans step aside of their North Star conference play Friday evening, staying on the road to visit Morningside (Iowa).  There will be a junior varsity match at 5:30 p.m., followed by the varsity contest at 7 p.m.  Both matches will be held at RVSC-Allee Gym on the campus of Morningside in Sioux City, Iowa.

(11) Bellevue (Neb.) 3, Dakota State (S.D.) 0 – FINAL (25-19, 25-21, 25-19)

• Dakota State opened the match with a kill by Maddie Polzin, followed by an attack error by Bellevue for a 2-0 lead.  The Bruins answered with four straight points and never trailed for the rest of the first set.
• Knotted at 4-4, BU went on a 10-4 scoring run to widen their lead to 14-8 capped by Olivia Galas' kill.
• The Trojans were held to a negative .054 hitting percentage (9 kills with 11 errors in 37 attempts) as the Bruins grabbed a 1-0 match lead with a 25-19 set one win.  BU hit .200 in the opening set (13 kills with 5 errors in 40 swings).
• Trailing 6-4 in the second set, Dakota State went on a 6-0 scoring surge to gain a 10-6 lead.  Three different DSU hitters recorded a kill during the scoring run (Sydney Schell, Madalyn Groft, and Nicole Sarringar).
• Bellevue rallied back to tie the second set at 16-16 after a service ace by Sidney Sledge.
• At 18-18, the Bruins closed the second set with a 7-3 run to secure a 2-0 match lead after a 25-21 victory.  BU outhit DSU 16-12 in the set.
• Riley Grandpre kicked off the third set with a kill followed by a service ace by M. Groft to give Dakota State a 2-0 lead.
• Both teams went through a see-saw battle in the third set before Bellevue stretched its lead late.  At 14-12, the Bruins went on a 6-1 scoring tear to balloon their lead to 20-13 after a kill by Sierra Athen.
• Dakota State could not get no closer than five points on three different occasions (20-15, 21-16, and 24-19).  Taylan Keefer smashed a kill to secure the 3-0 match victory for the Bruins at 25-19.
• Bellevue committed one attack error in the third set, hitting .364 with 17 kills in 44 swings.  Dakota State hit .211 (12 kills with 4 errors in 38 attempts).
• Schell led the Trojans with nine kills and collected 16 digs.  Grandpre added seven kills and four blocks.  She hit .455 in the match.
• M. Groft produced 20 set assists, earned two service aces, and tallied nine digs for DSU.  Polzin had six kills and nine digs.  Polzin and Brooklyn Grage each had two blocks.  Sarringar recorded five assists and six digs.  Peyton Groft registered 15 digs.
• Galas contributed the Bruins' offense with 36 set assists.  She also had seven digs.  Athen posted a double-double of 12 kills and 16 digs.  Eve Fountain had 10 kills, eight digs, and four blocks.  Peyton Schendt had eight kills. 
• Bellevue outhit Dakota State 46-33 in the match.  The Bruins hit .276 (11 attack errors in 127 swings) compared to the Trojans .122 hitting efficiency (19 errors in 115 attempts).
• Both teams recorded seven blocks in the match.  BU committed 11 service errors, while DSU had four service errors.
• The Trojans collected 62 digs compared to the Bruins 57 digs. 

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director