September 3, 2021

NORTH SIOUX CITY, S.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) hit .261 in the match to propel to a 3-0 sweep over Lincoln (Ill.) to go 2-0 record on the first day of Labor Day Classic Friday, hosted by College of Saint Mary (Neb.) at United Sports Academy.  The Trojans held the Lynx to .061 hitting percentage.

Dakota State wraps up the tournament Saturday against (RV) Life (Ga.) at 9 a.m. and No. 4-ranked Park (Mo.) at 3 p.m.  Lincoln, a member of the Chicaogland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC), fell to 2-5 overall record.

Dakota State (S.D.) 3, Lincoln (Ill.) 0 – FINAL (25-13, 25-16, 25-22)

• Leading 12-8 in the opening set, the Trojans used an 8-2 outburst to widen their lead to 19-10 after Hannah Viet's kill. 
• Dakota State closed the first set by scoring the final four points, capping off with Madalyn Groft's service ace for 25-13 victory and 1-0 match lead.
• DSU smashed an impressive .545 in the first set (13 kills with 1 error in 22 swings) and held LC to .067 hitting efficiency (11 kills with 9 errors in 30 attempts).
• Holding a slim 10-9 lead in the second set, the Trojans scored three straight points to widen their lead to 13-9 after M. Groft's ace.  The Lynx could get no closer than two points at 14-12.
• Dakota State went on a 5-0 scoring tear as their lead grew to 19-12 as Savannah Mares nailed down a service ace.
• The Trojans used another strong closing run, scoring the final four points of the second set.  Sydney Schell smashed a kill to give DSU a 2-0 match lead after a 25-16 win.
• Dakota State hit .296 in the second set with 11 kills and three errors in 27 swings and held Lincoln to .000 hitting percentage (9 kills with 9 errors in 29 attempts).
• Both teams went through seven ties in the first 18 rallies of the third set.  Knotted at 9-9, DSU went on a 5-1 run for a 15-10 lead.
• Payton Florine smashed back-to-back kill as the Lynx trimmed the Trojans' lead to 17-15.
• Dakota State answered with three straight kills by Viet and back-to-back kills by Schell for a 20-15 lead.
• After Schell's kill to set up Trojans' match point at 24-17, Lincoln scored the next five points to cut DSU's lead to 24-22.
• Schell closed the match with a kill for a 25-22 third set victory for the Trojans.
• Schell paced DSU's offense attack with 14 kills and hit .265.  Riley Grandpre added 11 kills and registered an impressive .455 hitting percentage.  M. Groft had 33 set assists, six kills, and eight digs.
• Peyton Groft led Dakota State's defense with 18 digs.  Viet had two blocks.  Brooklyn Grage tallied three service aces.
• Florine had seven kills for the Lynx.  Hope McGinnes produced 13 set assists.  Morgan Lolling added 10 assists. 
• DSU smashed 40 kills in the match, with 11 errors in 111 swings.  LC had 30 kills with 23 errors in 115 attempts.  Both teams had 51 digs.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director