August 19, 2022

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – Dakota State (S.D.) smashed 50 kills to fuel to a 3-0 season opening sweep over Columbia International (S.C.) Friday on the first day of the Chick-Fil-A Classic, hosted by Keiser (Fla.) at Countess de Hoernle Student Life Center.  Set scores were 25-22, 25-19, and 25-19 in their first-ever meeting.

Both teams qualified for the 2021 NAIA Women's Volleyball National Tournament last season, as well as receiving votes in this year's NAIA national preseason poll.  The Trojans, sitting at No. 37 spot in the national poll with an overall record of 21-9 last season, won the season opening match for the third consecutive year.

Columbia International, who is the preseason favorite to win the Appalachian Athletic Conference this season, fell to 1-3 overall record before their final match of the tournament Friday evening versus No. 18 ranked College of Saint Mary (Neb.).  The Rams were 34-9 overall record last season, sitting at No. 36 spot in the national preseason poll.

Dakota State plays their second match of the day versus Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) at 4 p.m. (Eastern Time)/3 p.m. (Central Time).

(RV) Dakota State (S.D.) 3, (RV) Columbia International (S.C.) 0 – FINAL

• The Trojans and Rams went through a closely tight first set through 23 rallies.  Leading 12-11, DSU reeled off five straight points capped by Peyton Groft's service ace for a 17-11 lead. 
• Madalyn Groft hit a service ace to widen Dakota State's lead to 19-12 in the opening set. 
• CIU answered by outscoring DSU 7-1, cutting the Trojans' lead to 20-19 after a kill by Alan Sanjurjo.
• Dakota State closed the set with a 25-22 victory and 1-0 match lead, thanks to Sydney Schell's three straight kills for the final DSU points of the first set.
• The Trojans outhit the Rams 18-13 in the opening set.  DSU hit .366 compared to CIU .294 hitting percentage.
• Falling behind 15-8 in the second set, Dakota State roared back with a monstrous 8-1 run to tie at 16-16 after Schell's kill.
• Dakota State held Columbia International to three points in the final 12 rallies of the second set (9-3 scoring run), extending the match's lead to 2-0 after a 25-19 victory.
• The Trojans scored the final five points of the second set with a kill by Vanessa Schroeder, followed by back-to-back kills by Schell, a service ace by M. Groft, and a kill by Riley Grandpre. 
• DSU smashed 15 kills in the second set and held CIU to nine kills.  The Trojans registered a hitting percentage of .160, while the Rams hit .041.
• Dakota State and Columbia International went through 10 ties and seven lead changes in the third set.
• Knotted at 15-15, the Trojans went on a 6-1 scoring tear to open a 21-16 lead.
• DSU never trailed for the rest of the third set, securing the match victory after scoring the final three points.  Viet and Grandpre each recorded a block assist to close the match with a 25-19 set three victory.
• The Trojans outhit the Rams 17-13 in the third set.
• Schell paced DSU's offense attack with a career-high 20 kills and hit .391.  She produced a double-double with 10 digs.
• Grandpre, Viet, and Brooklyn Grage each added six kills for the Trojans.  M. Groft and Schroeder each tallied five kills.
• M. Groft contributed 31 set assists for Dakota State.  She had eight digs.  P. Groft collected a match-high 17 digs.  She also had eight set assists.  VonnaGail Schlechter recorded nine digs.
• Viet led the Trojans with four blocks.  Grage added three blocks.
• Kira Rymer led the Rams with eight kills.  Jadaeya Morrell added six kills.  Kamelia De jesus posted a double-double of 24 set assists and 16 digs.  Kelcley Mangum had 13 digs.
• Dakota State hit .263 in the match (50 kills with 15 errors in 133 swings) compared to Columbia International .197 hitting efficiency (35 kills with 12 errors in 117 attempts).
• The Trojans earned seven service aces, while the Rams had three aces. 
• DSU had five blocks in the match (10 block assists).  CIU registered one block (2 block assists). 

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director