October 10, 2023

MADISON, S.D. – Maddi Langerock contributed a double-double of 37 set assists and a season-high 25 digs in fueling Dakota State (S.D.) to a 3-1 upset victory over NAIA's No. 15 ranked Bellevue (Neb.) Tuesday evening in the Dig Pink match at DSU Fieldhouse.  Tuesday's match also started the second half portion of the North Star Athletic Association conference schedule.

The win also gave Dakota State it's 10^th win of the season, recording double digits victory for the 13^th time in the last 14 years (10^th straight season with double digit wins).  It was DSU's first win over Bellevue since Oct. 13, 2021, held at DSU Fieldhouse.    

DSU's victory clinched a home court winning record, holding a 5-3 home court record with their final home match scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 4 versus Mayville State (N.D.).  It was the sixth straight season with a home court winning record for Dakota State.

The Trojans and the Bruins split their NSAA season meeting, with each team winning on its home court. 

Dakota State improved their overall record to 10-11 and 3-4 record in the North Star conference matches.  The win also gave DSU their third win over NAIA's Top 25 nationally ranked teams this season (No. 17 Jamestown, N.D., and No. 10 Montana Tech in early September.  Bellevue dropped their second straight match, falling to 16-6 overall record and 4-3 record in the North Star contests.

DSU steps aside their North Star conference play Saturday as they play a pair of matches in the 2023 Marvel Classic, hosted by Bellevue.  The Trojans face Grand View (Iowa) at 11 a.m., followed by another match at 1:30 p.m. versus No. 9 ranked Montana Tech.  The matches will be held at the Gordon Lozier Athletic Center on the campus of Bellevue.

Dakota State (S.D.) 3, (15) Bellevue (Neb.) 1 – FINAL (19-25, 25-23, 25-23, 25-15)

Bellevue went on a 12-3 scoring tear after taking a 6-5 lead, ballooning their lead to 16-7.  The Bruins never trailed for the rest of the first set and earned a 1-0 match lead after a 25-19 victory sparked.  Allie Kerns and Kiviniemi sparked BU with four kills each in the first set.

The Bruins hit .314 in the opening set with 14 kills and three attack errors in 35 swings.  The Trojans were held to .114 hitting efficiency (12 kills with eight errors in 35 attempts).

After DSU grabbed a 5-4 lead in the second set, BU went on a 7-0 scoring tear to earn a 10-5 lead after Kiviniemi's kill.  The Trojans were forced to burn their first timeout of the second set.

Dakota State roared back with a 7-0 scoring outburst to erase their 22-17 deficit into a set point opportunity at 24-22.  Brooklyn Grage highlighted DSU's scoring team with three kills. 

Sidney Sledge smashed a kill as Bellevue saved a set point chance, trailing 24-23.  Grage closed the second set with a kill, evening the match at 1-1 after DSU's 25-23 come-from-behind victory.

The Trojans smashed 16 kills in the second set compared to the Bruins 15 kills.  BU hit .227 (five errors in 44 swings) compared to DSU .204 hitting percentage (six errors in 49 attempts).

Bellevue went on a fast start in the third set, racing to a 6-1 lead highlighted by a pair of kills from Morgan Wale.

After falling behind 17-10, Dakota State mounted a 10-4 scoring surge to cut BU's lead to 21-20 after Langerock's kill.  Down 23-21, the Trojans scored the final four points of the third set to earn a 2-1 match lead.  Grage smashed a kill to close the third set with another 25-23 come-from-behind win.

Both teams had 15 kills in the third set.  Dakota State hit .213 (five errors in 47 swings) compared to Bellevue .161 hitting percentage (six errors in 56 attempts).

DSU and BU battled early in the closely tight fourth set.  The Trojans used a 5-0 scoring tear to widen their lead from 14-10 to 19-10 capped by a kill from Sydney Schell. 

An attack error by Bellevue gave Dakota State the biggest lead at 23-13.  Madalyn Groft smashed a kill to close the match with a 25-15 victory, claiming a 3-1 match victory.

DSU hit .225 in the fourth set with 13 kills and four attack errors in 40 swings.  BU was limited to .043 hitting percentage with nine kills and seven attack errors in 47 attempts.

Grage smashed a career-high 16 kills for Dakota State.  She hit .333 in the match and collected three blocks.  Schell added a double-double of 12 kills and 17 digs.  She had two blocks.  Macey Wathen tallied eight kills and two blocks.  Groft recorded nine kills, nine digs, and seven set assists.

Kate VanRooyan earned 24 digs for the Trojans' defense.  Gwendolyn Vongkasemsiri registered four blocks.  Julia Drietz recorded two service aces.  Groft, VanRooyan, Schell, and Grage each added an ace.

Kiviniemi led the Bruins' offense with 12 kills.  Eve Founation had a double-double of 11 kills and 13 digs.  Mila Aiwohi contributed 23 set assists and eight digs.  Jada Nunn tallied 16 set assists. 

Taylan Keefer led Bellevue with 24 digs.  Raeanne Kimoto added 12 digs.  Wale had five blocks.  Haley Fleischman, Wale, Aspen Meyer, and Sledge each had two blocks.

Dakota State outhit Bellevue 56-53.  The Trojans produced a .191 hitting percentage (23 attack errors in 171 attempts) compared to the Bruins .176 hitting efficiency (21 attack errors in 182 swings). 

DSU recorded 94.6 percent from the serving line with six aces and five errors in 93 attempts.  BU was 92 percent from the serving line with one ace and seven errors in 87 serves.  Both teams registered seven blocks in the match.
 

Karla Vanden Bosch - Dig Pink Honorary Captain First Serve