September 22, 2022

Photos credit by Donald Weidler

MADISON, S.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) roared past Mayville State (N.D.) by hitting a season-high .409 Thursday evening in the North Star Athletic Association volleyball match at DSU Fieldhouse.  The Trojans swept the Comets by the scores of 25-16, 25-18, and 25-18 to extend their season-high winning streak to three matches and fourth win in the last five matches.

Dakota State pounded out 56 kills in the match and limited Mayville State to 25 kills.

A milestone was also established at DSU Fieldhouse, where DSU's super senior Peyton Groft surpassed the 2,000-career digs in the opening set.  She currently has 2,010 career digs after the victory at Dakota State.

Dakota State, receiving votes in the latest NAIA Women's Volleyball Coaches' Top 25 national poll, lifted their overall record to 10-8 and 2-1 NSAA conference record.  Mayville State suffered its first NSAA setback this season, falling to 6-9 overall record and 1-1 record in the North Star.

DSU hit double digits win for the 12th time in the last 13 seasons.

The Trojans won the junior varsity match by the scores of 28-26, 25-19, and 25-21 and remained undefeated at home this season.

DSU concludes their five-match home stand Monday evening, hosting Briar Cliff (Iowa) in a non-conference action.  The junior varsity match is set for 5 p.m., followed by the varsity match at 7 p.m.  The Trojan volleyball squad is hosting the DSU Faculty/Staff Appreciation Night, as well as hosting Suicide Prevention night (wear purple color to raise awareness).

Mayville State heads to Gordon Lozier Center Friday afternoon to take on No. 15 ranked Bellevue (Neb.) in the North Star Athletic Association action.  First serve is set for 2 p.m. in Bellevue, Neb.

(RV) Dakota State (S.D.) 3, Mayville State (N.D.) 0 – FINAL

• After going through five ties and two lead changes in the early going, Mayville State's Samantha Passa smashed a kill to cut Dakota State's lead to 8-6.
• The Trojans scored four straight points, capped by a kill from Madalyn Groft and Brooklyn Groft to stretch their lead to 12-6.
• Hannah Viet smashed a kill to widen DSU's lead to 20-11 in the first set and never trailed.  Sydney Schell closed the first set with a kill, giving the Trojans a 1-0 match lead after a 25-16 victory.
• Dakota State hit .359 in the first set (18 kills with 4 errors in 39 attempts) and held Mayville State to .093 hitting percentage (9 kills with 5 errors in 43 swings).
• The Trojans and the Comets went through a see-saw battle in the second set, registering 10 ties and seven lead changes. 
• Knotted at 13-13, Schell sparked DSU's 4-0 scoring run with back-to-back kills and capped with Riley Grandpre's kill for a 17-13 lead.
• The Trojans never trailed for the rest of the second set, scoring the final three points to secure a 25-18 victory after a kill by Brooklyn Grage. 
• DSU extended its match lead to 2-0 after hitting an astounding .486 in the second set (18 kills with 3 errors in 32 attempts).  MSU was held to .074 hitting percentage (8 kills with 6 errors in 27 swings).
• Mayville State jumped to a 2-0 lead to start the third set before Dakota State went on a 10-3 scoring run.  Grage smashed a kill to give DSU a 10-5 lead, forcing the Comets to call its first timeout.
• Leading 12-8, Dakota State went on a monstrous 7-0 scoring surge to balloon their lead to 19-8. 
• DSU closed the match by scoring the final three points by three different hitters – Schell, M. Groft, and Grage for a 25-13 victory.
• The Trojans outhit the Comets 20-8 in the third set.  DSU hit .410 (4 errors in 39 swings) and held MSU to .083 hitting percentage (5 errors in 36 attempts).
• Three Dakota State hitters hit double-digits, led by Schell with a double-double of 19 kills and 14 digs.  She hit an impressive .500.  Viet added 13 kills with an amazing .524 hitting efficiency.  She had two blocks.  Grage collected 13 kills and hit .400 in the match.
• M. Groft contributed a double-double of 24 set assists and 12 digs for DSU.  She had eight kills and recorded a hitting percentage of .429.  Grandpre had three kills and three digs.
• P. Groft tallied 11 digs and seven set assists for the Trojans.  VonnaGail Schlechter added 10 digs.  Vanessa Schroeder recorded three blocks.  Jenna Frank earned a service ace.
• Ashley Pyburn led the Comets with eight kills and hit .381.  Abby Cox added five kills. 
• Elora Passa produced 12 set assists, seven digs, and five kills for Mayville State.  Rachel Hill added 11 assists, seven digs, and a service ace. 
• Dakota State committed just 11 attack errors in 110 swings.  Mayville State was held to .085 hitting efficiency (16 errors in 106 attempts).
• DSU was 93.2 percent from the serving line with an ace and five errors in 73 serves.  MSU was perfect at the serving line in 49 attempts and two service aces.
• The Trojans collected 58 digs in the match compared to the Comets 39 digs.  Dakota State had five team blocks, while Mayville State registered three blocks.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director