October 20, 2023

FOREST CITY, Iowa – Dakota State (S.D.) shook off their slow start after losing the first set Friday evening in the North Star Athletic Association volleyball action versus host-team Waldorf (Iowa) at Hanson Fieldhouse.  The Trojans rallied back to win the next three sets to earn a season series sweep over the Warriors in four sets.

Set scores were 16-25, 28-26, 25-21, and 25-16.  It was DSU's 11^th straight victory in the series meeting with Waldorf, in what would probably be the final North Star conference volleyball match (WU moves to a new conference in 2024-25).

Dakota State earned their fourth victory in the last five matches, improving to 13-12 overall record and 4-4 NSAA conference record.  Waldorf fell to 11-12 overall record and remained winless in nine North Star contests (0-9 NSAA record).

The Trojans will continue their action on road Saturday afternoon, visiting the NSAA"s conference leader and No. 5 ranked Viterbo (Wis.).  First serve is set for 2 p.m. at R.W. Beggs Gymnasium in La Crosse, Wis.

Dakota State (S.D.) 3, Waldorf (Iowa) 1 – FINAL (16-25, 28-26, 25-21, 25-16)

Both teams went on a see-saw battle in the opening set, recording nine ties in the first 26 rallies.  Tied at 13-13, the Warriors went on a 12-3 closing outburst to claim the first set at 25-16 and earned a 1-0 match lead. 

Dakota State outhit Waldorf 14-13 in the opening set.  The Trojans committed six attack errors in 33 swings for .242 hitting percentage, while the Warriors registered a hitting percentage of .414 with one attack error in 29 attempts.

The second set saw numerous runs by the Trojans and the Warriors.  With DSU leading 17-13, the Warriors stormed with a 9-1 run to earn a 22-18 lead after a kill by Anna Longhenry.

DSU roared back by scoring the next four points to tie the second set at 22-22, highlighted by back-to-back service aces by Reagan VanRooyan.  The Warriors called a timeout and answered by scoring the next two points to set up a set point opportunity at 24-22 after a service ace by Kaylee Kidd.

The Trojans saved two set point chances, tying the second set at 24-24 after a block by Gwendolyn Vongkasemsiri and Madalyn Groft.  An attack error by the Warriors gave DSU a 25-24 lead and an opportunity to even the match at 1-1.

Waldorf answered by scoring the next two points to earn another set point chance at 26-25.  The Warriors committed three attack errors, allowing the Trojans to secure the exciting second set at 28-26 and evened the match at 1-1.

DSU struggled offensively in the second set with .056 hitting percentage (10 kills with eight errors in 36 swings).  WU was held to a negative .020 hitting percentage with 14 kills and committed 15 attack errors in 50 attempts.

Dakota State and Waldorf battled back-and-forth in the third set, with a lead no greater than three points.  Trailing 21-20, the Trojans ignited a 5-0 scoring surge to win the third set with a 25-21 victory.  Brooklyn Grage smashed three straight kills to close the third set, earning a 2-1 match lead for DSU.

Both teams smashed 12 kills in the third set.  Dakota State had a hitting percentage of .212 (five errors in 33 attempts) compared to Waldorf .136 hitting efficiency (six errors in 44 swings).

The Trojans kicked off the fourth set with a 10-4 lead, thanks to three consecutive kills by Hailey Wathen and wrapped up the scoring run with a kill by Vongkasemsiri.

DSU never trailed for the rest of the fourth set, leading as many as eight points at 20-12 after Hannah Evans' kill.  The Trojans claimed the match with a 3-1 victory after earning a 25-16 set four victory.

Dakota State hit .172 in the fourth set (nine kills with four errors in 29 swings) and held Waldorf to minus .029 hitting percentage (eight kills with nine errors in 35 attacks).

Wathen sparked the Trojans' offense attack with 14 kills.  Grage added 13 kills.  Vongkasemsiri had eight kills.  Maddi Langerock posted a double-double of 36 set assists and 16 digs.

Kate VanRooyan led DSU's defense with 21 digs.  Madalyn Groft had 11 digs.  R. VanRooyan collected season-highs 10 digs and five service aces.  Evans tallied six blocks.  Vongkasemsiri and Grage each added four blocks.  Groft and Langerock each recorded two blocks. 

Longhenry led the Warriors with 13 kills.  Sydney Kidd added 10 kills.  Annie Stotlar had eight kills.  K. Kidd had a double-double of 10 kills and 18 digs.  Reinya Balderson contributed 25 set assists, three service aces, and six digs.  Emma Hovenga had 11 assists and six digs.

Kaylee Kidd tallied 12 digs for WU.  Charlotte Wright had four blocks.  Longhenry had three blocks. 

Waldorf recorded 47 kills in the match compared to Dakota State 45 kills.  The Trojans hit better with .168 hitting percentage (23 attack errors in 131 swings) compared to the Warriors .101 hitting efficiency (31 attack errors in 158 attempts). 

DSU and WU each registered seven service aces.  The Trojans had 11 blocks to the Warriors seven blocks.  Dakota State had 70 digs to Waldorf 58 digs.