November 4, 2022

MADISON, S.D. – The North Star Athletic Association women's volleyball leader No. 7 ranked Viterbo (Wis.) held off Dakota State (S.D.) Friday evening in a five-set thriller at DSU Fieldhouse.  Set scores were 20-25, 25-16, 25-14, 20-25, and 15-10.  It was the second time this season that the Trojans and the V-Hawks went to five sets (VU won the first NSAA meeting in La Crosse, Wis. in five sets last month).

Dakota State fell to 16-16 overall record and 6-7 NSAA conference record.  Viterbo stretched its winning streak to 13 matches, raising their overall record to 26-6 and stayed undefeated in NSAA conference play with 13-0 record.  The V-Hawks also clinched at least a share of the league regular-season title.

DSU wraps up their regular-season play Saturday afternoon in another NSAA match-up with Waldorf (Iowa).  First serve is set for 3 p.m. at DSU Fieldhouse.  There will be an alumni scrimmage at 11:30 a.m. (free event to the public).

Viterbo concludes their regular-season action Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m., battling with No. 16 ranked Bellevue (Neb.) in the battle of top two teams in the league.  The V-Hawks also look to secure an outright regular-season title.

(7) Viterbo (Wis.) 3, Dakota State (S.D.) 2 – FINAL (20-25, 25-16, 25-14, 20-25, 15-10)

• Tied at 8-8 in the first set, Dakota State went on a 4-0 scoring run highlighted by a pair of kills from Hannah Viet.  Madalyn Groft smashed a kill to give DSU a 12-8 lead, forcing the V-Hawks to burn their first timeout.
• Trailing 14-10, Viterbo answered with a 4-0 scoring run after three straight attack errors by the Trojans and knotted the first set at 14-14.
• Down by one point at 18-17, Dakota State went on a 7-1 scoring run capped by VonnaGail Schlechter's service ace to set up a set point opportunity at 24-19.
• A block from VU's Mariah Calkins and Marissa Kleman (DSU led 24-20), Sydney Schell smashed a kill to secure the first set at 25-20 and gave the Trojans a 1-0 match lead.
• A total of 11 ties and three lead changes were recorded in the opening set.
• The Trojans hit .146 in the first set (13 kills with 6 errors in 48 swings) compared to the V-Hawks .104 hitting percentage (12 kills with 7 error sin 48 attempts).
• Grace Rohde smashed a kill to open a 9-5 lead in the second set for Viterbo.
• The V-Hawks never trailed for the rest of the second set, prevailing to a 25-16 victory.  VU closed the second set with a 4-0 scoring run and evened the match at 1-1.
• Both teams smashed 13 kills in the second set.  However, the Trojans committed eight attack errors in 42 swings (.119 hitting percentage).  The V-Hawks hit .244 after committing three attack errors in 41 attempts.
• After DSU opened the third set with a 1-0 lead, Viterbo stormed with an 8-0 scoring run, highlighted by a pair of kills from Kenzie Winker and Kleman. 
• The V-Hawks cruised to a 25-14 victory in the third set, earning a 2-1 match lead over the Trojans.
• VU outhit DSU 17-10 in the third set.  The V-Hawks hit .359 (3 errors in 39 swings) compared to the Trojans .125 hitting percentage (5 errors in 40 attempts).
• Down 7-6 in the fourth set, Dakota State went on a 7-0 monstrous scoring run for a 13-7 lead – thanks to Schell's three kills during the scoring run.
• The V-Hawks could get non closer than two points, including a 19-17 deficit after Jada Mitchell's kill.
• The Trojans went on a 4-0 scoring run to widen their lead to 23-17 after V-Hawks' attack error.
• VU scored the next three points to cut DSU's lead to 23-20 after Lauryn Sobasky's service ace.  DSU went on to score the final two points to secure a 25-20 victory and forced the fifth and deciding set.
• Dakota State and Viterbo each smashed 13 kills in the fourth set.  The Trojans hit .184 (6 errors in 38 swings) and held the V-Hawks to .122 hitting percentage (8 errors in 41 attempts).
• Viterbo smashed four kills to kicked off the deciding set, racing to a 5-1 lead.  The Trojans answered with a 3-0 scoring run and trailed 5-4 after a block by Riley Grandpre and Viet.
• The V-Hawks then went on a 5-1 run to balloon their lead to 10-5 after a block from McGrath and Mitchell.
• Dakota State scored the next four points to cut Viterbo's lead to 10-9 after M. Groft's kill.
• Leading 11-10, the V-Hawks closed the fifth set with a 4-0 scoring run to secure a 15-10 win.
• VU outhit DSU 10-3 in the fifth set.  The V-Hawks hit .208 and held the Trojans to .053 hitting percentage.
• Schell posted a double-double of 16 kills and 15 digs for Dakota State.  Viet added 12 kills and five blocks.  Viet moved in a tie for third most all-time blocks in school history with Samantha Zell (355 career blocks).
• Vanessa Schroeder added eight kills (.467 hitting percentage) for the Trojans.  M. Groft tallied 22 set assists, nine digs, and nine kills.  Brooklyn Grage had six kills.  M. Groft, Schroeder, and Grage each recorded two blocks.
• Maddi Langerock contributed a double-double of 23 set assists and 20 digs for DS.  Peyton Groft collected 25 digs.  Schlechter added 16 digs.  Langerock, P. Groft, and Schlechter each recorded a service ace.
• Winker sparked the V-Hawks' offense with 21 kills.  She posted a double-double with 11 digs.  Mitchell added 14 kills and four blocks.  Rohde tallied 18 kills and three blocks.
• Sobasky produced a double-double of 33 set assists and 19 digs for VU.  Cailie Kowal added 20 set assists and eight digs.
• Adrianna Reinhart earned a match-high 32 digs for Viterbo.  Kenidi McCabe added 17 digs.  Sobasky, McCabe and Tyalor Larson each had a service ace.  Mariah Calkins had four blocks.
• Viterbo outhit Dakota State 65-52 in the match.  The V-Hawks hit .202 (26 attack errors in 193 swings) compared to the Trojans .134 (27 attack errors in 187 attempts). 
• DSU was 95.6 percent at the serving line (3 aces with 4 errors in 91 serves).  VU posted a service percentage of 95.2 percent (3 aces with 5 errors in 104 attempts).
• The V-Hawks collected 100 digs in the match compared to the Trojans 93 digs.
• VU had eight blocks, while DSU had seven blocks.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director