September 22, 2021

ABERDEEN, S.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) outhit Presentation (S.D.) 48-26 Wednesday evening, sparking to a 3-0 sweep for the first North Star Athletic Association volleyball victory of the season at Strode Center.  The Trojans won by the scores of 25-15, 25-19, and 25-23.

DSU defeated PC for the 20th time in the last 22 meetings, including nine consecutive victories in the series meeting.  The Trojans won their second straight match, lifting their overall record to 8-3 and 1-1 NSAA conference record.  It is the best start in Coach Amy Veenhof's coaching era at Dakota State.

Presentation fell to 10-4 overall record and 0-2 NSAA conference record.  Both teams will play their second North Star conference match at DSU Fieldhouse on Oct. 27.

Dakota State concludes their 12-match month-long road stretch with another North Star Athletic Association match on Saturday evening.  The Trojans visit Mayville State (N.D.) at Lewy Lee Fieldhouse.  There will be a junior varsity match at 5 p.m., followed by the varsity match at 7 p.m.

Dakota State (S.D.) 3, Presentation (S.D.) 0 – FINAL (25-15, 25-19, 25-23)

• Dakota State never trailed in the first set. Leading 13-12, the Trojans went on a 7-1 scoring run to balloon their lead to 20-13 after a kill by Madalyn Groft (assisted by Nicole Sarringar). 
• DSU closed the first set by scoring the final four points, capped by a kill by Riley Grandpre for a 25-15 victory. 
• The Trojans outhit the Saints 17-8 in the first set.  DSU hit an impressive .316 (5 errors in 38 swings) and held PC to .059 hitting percentage (6 errors in 34 attempts).
• Trailing 5-3 in the second set, Dakota State stormed with a 10-2 scoring surge to grab a 13-7 lead after a block assist each by Hannah Viet and M. Groft.
• Vanessa Schroeder smashed a kill to earn the biggest lead of the second set at 17-10 for DSU.
• Presentation could get no closer than two points at 19-17 after a service ace by Makenzey Burggraff and 20-18 after a kill by Constence Rollins (assisted by Olivia Corey).
• At 22-19, M. Groft smashed a kill followed by another kill by Viet to give a 24-19 lead for the Trojans.  DSU extended their match lead to 2-0 after an attack error by the Saints for a 25-19 victory.
• Dakota State tallied 15 kills in the second set and recorded a hitting percentage of .250 (6 errors in 36 swings).  PC had seven kills and hit .065 (5 errors in 31 attempts).
• The Trojans and the Saints went through a see-saw battle in the third set with the lead no greater than three points. 
• Maddie Polzin smashed a kill to give Dakota State a match point opportunity at 24-22.  PC saved a match point after a block by Saint Kerstin Knopik (24-23 DSU lead).
• Grandpre closed the match with a kill to give the Trojans a 3-0 victory, earning a slim 25-23 edge over the Saints.
• DSU hit .306 in the third set (16 kills with 5 errors in 36 swings) compared to PC .135 hitting percentage (11 kills with 6 errors in 37 attempts).
• Grandpre hit a season-high .500 in the match, collecting 10 kills for Dakota State.  She also had four digs.  Polzin added 15 kills (5.0 kills per set) and five digs.
• Sydney Schell tallied nine kills and tallied a match-high 16 digs.  M. Groft contributed 26 set assists and seven digs.  Sarringar added 16 set assists. 
• Peyton Groft recorded eight digs for DSU.  Schroeder registered two blocks.
• Rollins led the Saints with seven kills.  Ashley Alfonso and Saige Jones each added five kills. 
• Laura Babcock tallied 11 digs for PC.  Corey produced 17 set assists.
• Dakota State hit .291 in the match (48 kills with 16 errors in 110 swings).  Presentation was held to .088 hitting percentage (26 kills with 17 errors in 102 attempts).
• The Trojans tallied 54 digs compared to the Saints 40 digs. 

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director