September 10, 2022

La CROSSE, Wis. – Dakota State (S.D.) continued its challenging non-conference volleyball schedule, competing in the final preseason tournament tune-up Saturday at Viterbo (Wis.) Activity Center (R.W. Beggs Gymnasium).  DSU fell short to nationally ranked No. 18 Taylor (Ind.) of Crossroads League in four sets Saturday morning (25-19, 21-25, 25-16, and 25-13) in the battle of the Trojans.

Dakota State, receiving votes recognition in the NAIA Women's Volleyball Coaches' Top 25 national poll, fell to 6-7 overall record.  Taylor lifted their overall record to 11-3.  It was the first-ever all-time series meeting between DSU and TU.

DSU closes out the Viterbo tournament play against another member of the Crossroads League, (RV) Bethel (Ind.).  The match is set for 1 p.m.

(18) Taylor (Ind.) 3, (RV) Dakota State (S.D.) 1 – FINAL (25-19, 21-25, 25-16, 25-13)

• Taylor kicked off the opening set with a 13-5 lead, including four straight points for an eight-point lead.  Dakota State answered with four straight points, sparked by three kills from Brooklyn Grage (DSU trailed 13-9).
• TU never trailed for the rest of the first set, securing a 1-0 match lead after a 25-19 victory.  DSU outhit Taylor 14-10 in the opening set, however, Dakota State committed 11 attack errors for a hitting percentage of .083 (36 swings).  TU hit .240 (4 errors in 25 swings).
• DSU raced to a 10-4 opening lead in the second set.  TU answered with a 4-0 scoring run to cut DSU's lead to 10-8.
• Both teams went through seven ties in a see-saw battle in the second set.  Trailing 17-16, Dakota State scored three straight points highlighted by back-to-back kills by Sydney Schell for 19-17 lead.
• Taylor cut Dakota State's lead to 22-21 in the second set.  DSU scored the final three points, capped by Grage's kill for a 25-21 victory and evened the match at 1-1.
• Dakota State hit .256 in the second set (14 kills with 4 errors in 39 swings) compared to Taylor .179 hitting efficiency (13 kills with 6 errors in 39 attempts).
• Taylor scored the first three points of the third set and never trailed to regain a 2-1 match lead.
• DSU could get no closer than two points at 15-13 in the third set, forcing TU to call a timeout.  Taylor went on to close the third set with a 10-3 scoring run for a 25-16 victory.
• Taylor outhit Dakota State 15-8 in the third set. 
• TU sprinted to a 10-2 lead in the fourth set, thanks to a 4-0 quick start. 
• A block by DSU's Madalyn Groft and Grage trimmed TU's lead to 10-6.
• Taylor increased their lead to 20-9 after a 10-3 outburst, propelling to a 25-13 set four victory and securing the match.
• TU outhit DSU 15-9 in the fourth set.  Taylor hit .343 (15 kills with 3 errors in 35 swings) compared to Dakota State .111 hitting percentage (9 kills with 5 errors in 36 attempts).
• Grage led DSU's offense with 12 kills.  Schell produced a double-double of 11 kills and 19 digs.  Hannah Viet tallied 10 kills.  Vanessa Schroeder had four kills.
• Madalyn Groft contributed a double-double of 32 set assists and 11 kills for Dakota State.  She also smashed five kills.  Maddi Langerock recorded nine digs.
• Peyton Groft collected 14 digs for DSU.  Riley Grandpre, Schroeder, and Viet each added three blocks.
• Ryan Czerniak powered Taylor with 21 kills and hit an impressive .594.  Anna Frey added a double-double of 12 kills and 22 digs.  Kacy Bragg recorded a double-double of 45 set assists and 12 digs.
• McKaylah Flagle tallied 12 digs for TU.  Grace Ieremia had four blocks.
• Taylor outhit Dakota State 53-45 in the match.  TU registered a hitting percentage of .230 (19 errors in 148 swings) compared to DSU .108 hitting percentage (28 attack errors in 157 attempts). 
• Dakota State had eight blocks, while Taylor had four blocks.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director