September 2, 2022

NORTH SIOUX CITY, S.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) kicked off their challenging preseason tournament Friday at United Sports Academy, playing in the College of Saint Mary (Neb.) Labor Day Classic.  The Trojans opened the tournament play after being swept in three straight sets by NAIA's nationally ranked No. 8 Northwestern (Iowa) of the Great Plains Athletic Conference.

Dakota State, receiving votes in the NAIA Women's Volleyball Coaches' Top 25 national poll, fell to 4-3 overall record.  Northwestern lifted their overall record to 6-1.

DSU takes on another nationally ranked team from the GPAC, No. 23 Dordt (Iowa) at 5 p.m.

(8) Northwestern (Iowa) 3, (RV) Dakota State (S.D.) 0 – FINAL (25-23, 25-15, 25-12)

• The Trojans raced to a 4-0 opening lead, thanks to four consecutive attack errors by the Red Raiders.
• With DSU leading 6-4, Northwestern scored five straight points to earn a 9-6 lead.
• Both teams went through a see-saw battle in the opening set, recording five ties and three lead changes.
• The Red Raiders took the first set in a closely tight contest by the score of 25-23.
• DSU and NWIA struggled offensively, with the Red Raiders hitting .115 (14 kills with 8 errors in 52 swings).  The Trojans were held to .061 hitting percentage (10 kills with 7 errors in 49 attempts).
• Sydney Schell smashed a kill to give the Trojans a 6-4 lead in the second set.  The Red Raiders then went on to score five straight points, capped by a kill by Alysen Dexter for an 8-4 lead.
• Northwestern's lead continued to grow to 18-9 after a kill by Dexter. 
• Dakota State could not get no closer than five points at 18-13 after a 4-0 run, highlighted by back-to-back kills by Schell and a kill by Madalyn Groft.
• Bekah Horstman smashed a kill to close the second set at 25-15, extending NWIA's match lead to 2-0.
• The Red Raiders hit .360 in the second set (12 kills with 3 errors in 25 swings).  The Trojans were held to .067 hitting percentage (10 kills with 8 errors in 30 attempts).
• Knotted at 3-3 in the third set, the Red Raiders used a 12-1 scoring surge to earn a 15-4 lead.  Horstman and Dexter accounted a combined five consecutive kills to grab an 11-point lead.
• Horstman closed the match with a kill as the Red Raiders cruised to a 25-12 set three victory.  NWIA outhit DSU 15-5 in the third set.
• Schell tallied seven kills and nine digs for Dakota State.  Hannah Viet added six kills and four blocks.  M. Groft had five kills, seven errors and 11 digs. 
• Riley Grandpre collected five blocks and three kills for DSU.  Maddi Langerock contributed 15 set assists and six digs.  Macy Wetsch had two service aces.  Peyton Groft tallied 16 digs.
• Dexter smashed 13 kills and collected nine digs for NWIA.  She also had three service aces.  Horstman added 12 kills and eight blocks.  Liv Reltsma had 24 set assists.  Jadyden Schutt recorded 10 assists, 8 digs, and three service aces.
• Savonne Sterk recorded five blocks, while Macay Van't Hut added four blocks.
• Northwestern hit .241 in the match (41 kills with 14 errors in 112 swings) and held Dakota State to .027 hitting efficiency (25 kills with 22 errors in 113 attempts).
• The Red Raiders earned 12 blocks, while the Trojans had 9.5 blocks. 
• DSU was 96.1 percent from the serving line with three aces and two errors in 51 attempts.  NWIA recorded 91.9 service percentage with eight aces and six errors in 74 attempts. 

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director