September 9, 2022

La CROSSE, Wis. – Dakota State (S.D.) opened a 1-0 match lead over Rocky Mountain (Mont.) of the Frontier Conference Friday afternoon on the first day of the Viterbo (Wis.) Tournament at Viterbo Varsity Athletic Center (R.W. Beggs Gymnasium).  The Battlin' Bears held the Trojans to below .100 hitting percentage to earn a 3-1 victory.

Both teams are listed on the receiving votes section of the NAIA Women's Volleyball Coaches' Top 25 national poll.  The Trojans fell to 5-6 overall record, while the Battlin' Bears improved to 6-4 overall record.  It was the first meeting all-time series between both teams.

Dakota State looks to swing back in the winning column as they face Rochester (Mich.) of the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference at 4 p.m.

(RV) Rocky Mountain (Mont.) 3, (RV) Dakota State (S.D.) 1 – FINAL (21-25, 25-23, 25-18, 25-21)

• Rocky Mountain and Dakota State went through 14 ties and five lead changes in the opening set.
• Trailing 12-11, the Trojans scored five straight points, highlighted with three kills by Sydney Schell to earn a 16-12 lead.
• The Battlin' Bears rallied back to knot the first at 16-16 after a service ace by Rhiannon Nez. 
• Falling behind 20-19, the Trojans used a strong 6-1 closing run to secure the first set at 25-21 capped by Hannah Viet's kill.
• Dakota State hit .293 in the first set (16 kills with 4 errors in 41 swings) and held Rocky Mountain to .143 hitting percentage (11 kills with 6 errors in 35 attempts).
• RMC raced to an 8-2 lead in the second set.  Their lead grew to 19-8 after a block from Bella Bryan. 
• Dakota State roared back with an 11-2 outburst, including scoring five straight points capped by Madalyn Groft's kill as the Trojans trailed 21-19. 
• After Rocky Mountain extended their lead to 23-19, Dakota State scored the next three points to trim their lead to 23-22.
• The Battlin' Bears held off the Trojans 25-23 in the second set, evening the match a 1-1.
• DSU outhit RMC 13-12 in the second set.  Both teams struggled offensively in hitting, with the Battlin' Bears hitting .115 (6 errors in 52 swings) compared to the Trojans .071 hitting percentage (9 errors in 56 attempts).
• Rocky Mountain used another quick start in the third set, vaulting to a 5-1 lead. 
• Schell smashed a kill as the Trojans trimmed RMC's lead to 16-14 in the third set. 
• The Battlin' Bears never trailed for the rest of the third set, earning a 2-1 match lead after a 25-18 victory. 
• RMC hit .184 in the third set (12 kills with 3 errors in 49 attempts) compared to DSU .083 hitting efficiency (12 kills with 8 errors in 48 swings).
• M. Groft smashed a kill to give Trojans a 10-5 lead to start the fourth set.
• With DSU leading 14-10, RMC rallied back by scoring four straight points to tie the fourth set at 14-14.
• Knotted at 18-18, the Battlin' Bears close the match by outscoring the Trojans 7-3 for a 25-21 victory.
• Rocky Mountain outhit Dakota State 12-10 in the fourth set.  The Battlin' Bears hit .143 compared to the Trojans .039 hitting efficiency.
• Schell led DSU's offense attack with 17 kills.  She posted a double-double with 19 digs.  Viet added 12 kills and three blocks.  Brooklyn Grage recorded eight kills and 12 digs.
• M. Groft and Riley Grandpre each tallied six kills for Dakota State.  M. Groft contributed a double-double of 23 set assists and 10 digs.  Maddi Langerock added 13 assists and nine digs. 
• Peyton Groft led the Trojans' defense with 20 digs.  M. Groft collected four blocks.  Vanessa Schroeder registered three blocks.
• Nez paced the Battlin' Bears with 11 kills and hit .296.  She added four blocks.  Makenna Bushman and Kyra Oakland each had nine kills.  Blythe Sealey produced 37 set assists.
• Alya Embry recorded a match-high 34 digs for Rocky Mountain.  Brooke Ark and Lainne Wilkins each added 13 digs.  Oakland had three blocks. 
• Dakota State outhit Rocky Mountain 51-47 in the match.  The Battlin' Bears hit .146 (21 attack errors in 178 swings) compared to the Trojans .112 hitting efficiency (29 attack errors in 196 attempts).
• RMC registered eight blocks compared to DSU seven blocks.  The Trojans collected 91 digs, while the Battlin' Bears had 89 digs.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director