October 14, 2023

BELLEVUE, Neb. – Dakota State (S.D.) and NAIA's nationally ranked No. 10 Montana Tech of the Frontier Conference met for the second time this season Saturday afternoon in the 2023 Marvel Classic, hosted by North Star Athletic Association's fellow Bellevue (Neb.).  The Orediggers earned a season series split with the Trojans in four sets (25-11, 25-27, 25-18, and 25-20).

Dakota State won the first meeting earlier this season in the Viterbo (Wis.) tournament, sweeping Montana Tech in three straight sets who was also ranked No. 10 in the NAIA at that time.  The Trojans are 11-12 overall record, finishing the day with a split (defeated Grand View, Iowa, in three straight sets earlier Saturday).  The Orediggers lifted their overall record to 18-3.

DSU stays on the road Tuesday as they conclude their non-conference schedule at Mount Marty (S.D.).  The junior varsity match starts at 5:30 p.m., followed by the varsity match at 7 p.m.  The matches will be held at Cimpl Arena in Yankton, S.D., on the campus of Mount Marty.

(10) Montana Tech 3, Dakota State (S.D.) 1 – FINAL (25-11, 25-27, 25-18, 25-20)

The Orediggers raced to a 6-1 lead in the opening set and never trailed to grab a 1-0 match lead.  MTU cruised past DSU 25-11 in the first set.  Montana Tech outhit DSU 15-8.  The Orediggers hit an impressive .438 (one attack error in 32 attempts) and held the Trojans to .000 hitting efficiency (eight attack errors in 43 swings).

Dakota State jumped to a 5-2 opening lead in the second set, capped by a block from Gwendolyn Vongkasemsiri and Maddi Langerock.  Madalyn Groft smashed a kill to balloon the Trojans' lead to 12-7.

Montana Tech answered with a 5-1 scoring run to cut DSU's lead to 13-12 after a kill by Maureen Jessop.

At 14-13, the Trojans went on a 5-0 outburst highlighted by back-to-back kills by Sydney Schell.  Dakota State led 19-13 and forced the Orediggers to burn their second timeout of the second set.

MTU came out from the timeout with a 6-1 scoring run to trim DSU's lead to 20-19 after Olivia Muir's kill.

Groft smashed a kill to set up the set point opportunity at 24-22 for Dakota State.  Montana Tech then scored three straight points to prevent the Trojans securing the second set.  DSU took a timeout, trailing at 25-24.

The Trojans exploded for the next three points, ignited by a kill from Macey Wathen followed by Vongkasemsiri's block.  Dakota State claimed the second set with a 27-25 victory to even the match at 1-1.

DSU registered a hitting percentage of .209 (17 kills with eight attack errors in 43 swings) compared to MTU .156 hitting percentage (15 kills with eight attack errors in 45 attempts) in the second set.

Montana Tech kicked off the third set by scoring three straight points for a 3-0 lead and never trailed.  Dakota State could get no closer than one point on several occasions, including 13-12 after Groft's kill. 

The Orediggers used a 7-2 closing run to regain a 2-1 match lead after winning 25-18, capped by Megan Benton's kill. 

MTU smashed 20 kills and hit .421 (four attack errors in 38 swings) in the third set.  DSU registered 13 kills and .273 hitting percentage (four attack errors in 33 attempts).

The fourth set highlighted a series of runs by both teams.  With Montana Tech leading 22-16, the Trojans went on a 4-0 scoring tear to trim the Orediggers' lead to 22-20. 

Montana Tech closed the match by scoring the last three points of the fourth sets, capped by a block from Olivia Labeau and Benton for a 25-20 victory.

MTU outhit DSU 15-10 in the fourth set.  Montana Tech hit .256 (five attack errors in 39 swings) compared to Dakota State .133 hitting percentage (six attack errors in 30 attempts).

Schell smashed 19 kills for the Trojans.  She posted a double-double with 12 digs.  She also had four blocks.  Groft added nine kills and seven digs.  Langerock had a career-high 43 set assists and produced a double-double with 13 digs.  She had four blocks.

Vongkasemsiri tallied a career-high eight blocks and seven kills for Dakota State.  Kate VanRooyan led the Trojans' defense with 18 digs.  Reagan VanRooyan added eight digs.

Julia Drietz and Langerock each had a service ace for DSU.

Jessop led the Orediggers with 19 kills and three blocks.  Muir added 18 kills.  LaBeau tallied 12 kills and seven blocks.  Taylor Henley had eight kills.

Rhys Layton contributed 35 set assists for Montana Tech.  McKenna Kaelber added 23 assists.  Sara Hopcroft had three service aces and 11 digs.  Emily Green recorded 17 digs.  Jelena Jablanov earned 15 digs.

Montana Tech outhit Dakota State 65-48 in the match.  The Orediggers hit .305 (18 attack errors in 154 swings) compared to the Trojans .156 hitting efficiency (26 attack errors in 141 attempts).  DSU had 11 blocks to MTU eight blocks.  Both teams produced 63 digs.