September 17, 2021

SIOUX CITY, Iowa – Dakota State (S.D.) trailed 2-1 in the non-conference volleyball match Friday evening with Morningside (Iowa) at RVSC-Allee Gym.  The Trojans roared back in the fourth set by hitting .423 to force the fifth and deciding set.  DSU held on to defeat the Mustangs in a five-set thriller, their second straight meeting that was decided in five sets (MC defeated DSU in last year's meeting at DSU Fieldhouse).

Set scores were 25-20, 23-25, 20-25, 25-14, and 15-12.

Dakota State halted their 12-match series losing skid with Morningside, with the last victory coming on Sept. 26, 2006, in a five-set thriller.  The Trojans improved their overall record to 7-3 and 3-0 record against members of the Great Plains Athletic Conference.  Morningside fell to 8-9 overall record.

DSU stays on the road as they swing back in the North Star Athletic Association action.  The Trojans visit Presentation (S.D.) on Wednesday, with the junior varsity match at 4 p.m. followed by the varsity match at 6 p.m.  Both matches will be held at Strode Center in Aberdeen, S.D.

Dakota State (S.D.) 3, Morningside (Iowa) 2 – FINAL (25-20, 23-25, 20-25, 25-14, 15-13)

• Despite a slow start trailing 8-5 in the opening set, Dakota State went on a 7-0 scoring tear to grab a 12-8 lead.  Maddie Polzin tallied three kills, while Riley Grandpre added two kills during the scoring run.
• The Trojans maintained their lead throughout the first set as Polzin secured with a kill for a 25-20 victory and 1-0 match lead.
• DSU smashed 14 kills and hit .225 in the first set (5 errors in 40 swings).  MC had 13 kills and hit .176 (7 errors in 34 attempts).
• Dakota State and Morningside went through a see-saw battle in the second set, featuring a total of 10 ties.  At 22-22, the Mustangs jumped to a 24-22 lead after a kill by Meredith Hoffman followed by a service ace from Sydney Marlow.
• After DSU's timeout, the Trojans saved one set point chance by MC after a block by Hannah Viet and Polzin.  Hoffman smashed a kill to secure a 25-23 set two victory for the Mustangs, evening the match at 1-1.
• DSU outhit MC 14-12 in the second set.  The Trojans, however, committed seven attack errors in 44 swings for a hitting efficiency of .159.  The Mustangs hit .190 (12 kills with 4 errors in 42 swings).
• Morningside raced to a 6-2 lead in the third set and never looked back as they extended their match lead to 2-1 after a 25-20 victory.
• Dakota State trimmed the Mustangs' lead to 18-17 after Grandpre's kill.  From there, MC went on a 6-0 scoring tear to set up six set point chances at 24-17.
• Morningside outhit Dakota State 13-7 in the third set.  The Trojans were held to negative .026 hitting percentage (8 errors in 39 swings).  The Mustangs hit .111 (8 errors in 45 attempts).
• Tied at 7-7 in the fourth set, Dakota State went on a 5-0 run capped by a block assist by Brooklyn Grage and Grandpre for a 12-7 lead.
• Dakota State lead 14-11 and closed the fourth set with a monstrous 11-3 run for a 25-14 win to force the fifth and deciding set.  Polzin had a pair of service aces, while Jenna Frank added a service ace.  Grandpre closed the fourth set with a kill for the Trojans.
• DSU smashed 13 kills and committed two attack errors in 26 swings in the fourth set.  MC was held to .107 hitting percentage (9 kills with 6 errors in 28 attempts).
• Both teams battled back and forth in the decisive fifth set with four ties and a lead change, with the lead no greater than two points both by the Trojans and the Mustangs.
• Knotted at 12-12, the Mustangs committed a service error to give DSU a 13-12 lead.  Morningside followed up with an attack error to give Trojans a match point at 14-12, forcing the Mustangs to call a timeout.
• Hoffman smashed a kill as MC trimmed DSU's lead to 14-13.  Sydney Schell closed the match with a kill to give Trojans a 15-13 thrilling victory over the Mustangs.
• Both teams struggled offensively in the fifth set.  Morningside hit .029 with nine kills and eight errors in 35 swings.  Dakota State registered .038 hitting efficiency with four kills and three errors in 26 attempts.
• Polzin sparked the Trojans' offense attack with 17 kills.  She also posted a double-double with 10 digs.  Grandpre added 12 kills and hit .321 in the match.  Schell contributed a double-double of 11 kills and tallied 21 digs.
• Viet and Madalyn Groft each had five kills for DSU.  M. Groft produced 36 set assists and collected nine digs.  Peyton Groft led the Trojans' defense with 22 digs. 
• Polzin recorded three blocks for Dakota State.  Grandpre and Viet each had two blocks.
• Sydney Marlow posted a double-double of 18 kills and registered 14 digs for MC.  Emerson Smith added a double-double of 10 kills and 22 digs.  Ryley Rolls and Hoffman each smashed 10 kills. 
• Sabrina Creason had 31 set assists and seven digs for the Mustangs.  Bridget Smith added 20 assists and nine digs.  Payton Shoquist had 26 digs.  Claire Wilson and Smith each had two blocks.
• Morningside outhit Dakota State 56-52 in the match.  The Trojans hit .154 (25 attack errors in 175 swings) compared to the Mustangs .125 hitting efficiency.  MC committed 33 attack errors in 184 attempts.
• MC suffered 14 service errors compared to DSU 10 service errors.  Morningside had 88 digs while Dakota State had 83 digs. 

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director