October 17, 2023

YANKTON, S.D. – Despite falling 26-24 in the opening set Tuesday evening at Cimpl Arena, Dakota State (S.D.) cruised past Mount Marty (S.D.) in the next three sets (25-19, 25-17, and 25-18) to earn a 3-1 match victory.  The Trojans earned a season series sweep and extended their winning streak in the all-time series to 12 matches.

Dakota State evened their overall record at 12-12 and wrapped up their non-conference schedule with their first road victory this season.  Mount Marty, a member of the Great Plains Athletic Conference, fell to 10-17 overall record.

The Trojans return to their North Star Athletic Association action this weekend.  DSU remains on the road, visiting Waldorf (Iowa) Friday evening with a 7 p.m. first serve at Hanson Fieldhouse.  Dakota State then travels to No. 5 ranked Viterbo (Wis.), the conference leader, on Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. in La Crosse, Wis.

Dakota State (S.D.) 3, Mount Marty (S.D.) 1 – FINAL (24-26, 25-19, 25-17, 25-18)

Dakota State raced to a 10-3 lead in the opening set, taking advantage of Mount Marty's five attack errors.  The Lancers answered with a 7-1 run to trim the Trojans' lead to 11-10.

Both teams went through a series of runs in the first set.  Sydney Schell smashed a kill to set up a set point opportunity at 24-20.

Mount Marty stormed back by saving three set point chances and roared with a 6-0 closing run for a 26-24 victory.  The Lancers earned a 1-0 match lead. 

MMU hit .162 in the opening set (14 kills with eight attack errors in 37 attempts) compared to DSU .097 hitting efficiency (12 kills with nine errors in 31 attempts).

At 17-13 in the second set, Dakota State went on a 5-0 scoring run to balloon their lead to 22-13.  Mount Marty answered with a 6-1 scoring run to cut DSU's lead to 23-19 after a kill by Julia Weber.

Maddi Langerock smashed a kill to set up a set point chance for the Trojans at 24-19.  DSU secured the second set with a 25-19 victory, thanks to their impressive .323 hitting percentage (13 kills with three errors in 31 swings).  MMU was limited to .000 hitting percentage with 11 kills and committed 11 attack errors in 39 attempts.

After DSU's 7-3 lead, Mount Marty went on a 5-0 scoring tear to overtake an 8-7 lead after Weber's kill.  Dakota State answered with a 4-0 scoring run to regain their lead at 11-10 and never trailed for the rest of the set.

Schell smashed a kill to close the third set at 25-17, earning a 2-1 match lead for Dakota State.  The Trojans hit .283 in the third set (16 kills with three attack errors in 46 swings) and held the Lancers to .109 hitting percentage (13 kills with eight attack errors in 46 attempts).

Dakota State fell behind early in the fourth set and erased their 4-1 deficit to a 4-4 tie after MMU's attack error.  After going through a see-saw battle, the Trojans pulled away to secure the win.  DSU highlighted a 5-1 scoring run to earn a 14-11 lead capped by a block from Hannah Evans and Brooklyn Grage.

Dakota State closed the fourth set with a 4-1 scoring run for a 25-18 victory.  The Trojans outhit the Lancers 17-11 in the fourth set.  DSU hit .333 after committing just three attack errors in 42 attempts.  Mount Marty hit .087  with seven attack errors in 46 attempts.

Schell led DSU with a double-double of 19 kills and 11 digs.  Grage added 12 kills and hit .435 in the match.  Evans tallied seven kills and recorded a hitting percentage of .375.  She had four blocks.  Madalyn Groft had 11 digs, eight set assists, four blocks, and five kills.

Macey Wathen contributed six kills and four blocks for Dakota State.  Maddi Langerock produced a double-double of 40 set assists and 14 digs.  She also had six kills with a .750 hitting percentage. 

Kate VanRooyan led the Trojans' defense with 17 digs.  Reegan VanRooyan added nine digs.

Weber smashed a match-high 25 kills for Mount Marty.  Adisyn Indahl added a double-double 12 kills and 12 digs.  Ally Whitmire collected 43 set assists and nine digs.  Ivy Mines had 14 digs.  Katelyn Chytka tallied 12 digs.  Skylar Sullivan recorded 10 digs.  Aubrey Herbolsheimer and Weber each had three blocks.

Dakota State outhit Mount Marty 58-49 in the match.  The Trojans hit .267 (18 attack errors in 150 swings) compared to the Lancers .089 hitting percentage (34 attack errors in 168 swings).

Both teams registered 72 digs.  DSU had 10 blocks compared to MMU six blocks.