October 3, 2023

MITCHELL, S.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) was unable to hold on to their 2-1 match lead in a non-conference volleyball contest versus Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) Tuesday evening at Christian Athletic Center.  The Tigers forced the fifth and deciding set to secure another 3-2 thrilling victory over the Trojans.

It was the fourth straight meeting that DSU and DWU went to the distance in the fifth and deciding set.  The Tigers completed the season series sweep over the Trojans.

Dakota State fell to 8-10 overall record.  Dakota Wesleyan, receiving votes in the latest NAIA Women's Volleyball Coaches' Top 25 national poll, improved to 14-10 overall record.

DSU returns home as they begin their three-match North Star Athletic Association home stand.  The Trojans host Dickinson State (N.D.) Friday evening at DSU Fieldhouse, with the first serve at 5 p.m.

(RV) Dakota Wesleyan 3, Dakota State (S.D.) 2 – FINAL (25-19, 22-25, 19-25, 25-16, 15-11)

Dakota State and Dakota Wesleyan went through a series of runs in the opening set.  The Trojans opened with a 7-4 lead after a kill from Brooklyn Grage (assisted by Madalyn Groft).  The Tigers then went on an 8-3 scoring run to overtake a 12-10, capped by a block from Ady Dwight and Abigail Brunsing.

Groft smashed a kill to regain a 14-13 lead for DSU in the first set.  DWU went on an 7-0 scoring tear to balloon their lead to 20-14 after Dwight's kill. 

Dakota State went on a 5-1 run to cut Dakota Wesleyan's lead to 21-19 in the opening set.  The Tigers closed the first set by scoring the final four points for a 25-19 victory. 

DWU smashed 15 kills and recorded .302 hitting percentage (two errors in 43 attempts) in the first set.  DSU had 14 kills and registered .195 hitting percentage (six errors in 41 swings).

The Trojans and the Tigers went through a see-saw battle in the second set, recording 15 ties in the first 40 rallies.  Knotted at 20-20, Dakota State went on a 4-0 scoring run capped by a kill from Grage to set up the set point opportunity at 24-20.  After DWU scored the next two points, Grage smashed a kill as DSU knotted the match at 1-1 with a 25-22 set two victory.

DSU outhit DWU 13-12 in the second set.  The Trojans hit .190 (five errors in 42 attempts) and held the Tigers to .059 hitting efficiency after registering nine attack errors in 51 swings).

Dakota State roared to a 7-1 lead in the third set, smashing four kills during their fast start (two kills from H. Wathen).  Dakota Wesleyan answered with an 11-5 scoring run to tie the third set at 12-12 after a kill from Logan Bly.

After going four more ties between DSU and DWU (fourth tie at 16-16), Dakota State went on a 3-0 scoring run to open a 19-16 lead after a block from Hannah Evans and Grage.  Sydney Schell smashed a kill to stretch DSU's lead to 21-17 and forced the Tigers to burn their second timeout.

Dakota State grabbed a 2-1 match lead after DWU committed an attack error to end the third set, giving the Trojans a 25-19 victory.  The Trojans outhit the Tigers 11-9 in the third set.  DWU was held to .021 hitting percentage (eight attack errors in 48 attempts), while DSU hit .143 (six attack errors in 35 swings).

DSU opened the fourth set with a 3-0 lead.  With the Trojans leading 4-2, the Tigers went on a 7-1 scoring run to overtake a 9-5 capped by a service ace by Kerrigan Schultz.

A block from Evans and Grage regained the lead for DSU at 12-11, forcing DWU to burn their first timeout of the fourth set.  The Tigers answered with a 6-0 scoring outburst to overtake a 16-12 lead after Brunsing's kill.

Dakota Wesleyan closed the fourth set with a 9-4 scoring run to force the fifth and deciding set after a 25-16 victory.  DWU outhit DSDU 16-9 in the fourth. 

The Tigers started the fifth set with a 4-1 lead.  The Trojans trimmed DWU's lead to 5-4 after an attack error by Dakota Wesleyan. 

DWU ballooned their lead to 10-6 after an attack error DSU, forcing the Trojans to burn their first timeout.  Dakota State could get no closer than three points at 14-11 as Dakota Wesleyan sealed the victory after Bly's kill at 15-11.

The Tigers outhit the Trojans 11-7 in the deciding set.  DWU hit .375 (two attack errors in 24 swings) compared to DSU .182 hitting percentage (three errors in 22 attempts).

Schell paced Dakota State with a double-double of 15 kills and season-high 24 digs.  Groft added a double-double of 13 kills (season-high) and 19 set assists.  She tallied eight digs.  Maddi Langerock posted a double-double of 27 set assists (season-high) and 12 digs.  She also had four kills.

Grage tallied nine kills for the Trojans.  Macey Wathen had a service ace.  Evans had a career-high nine blocks (tied for ninth most single match blocks in DSU school record book with six other occurrences).  Gwendolyn Vongkasemsiri and Grage each added four blocks.  H. Wathen had three blocks.

Kate VanRooyan collected a career-high 32 digs for DSU.  Sophia Vanden Bosch added 13 digs. 

Dwight had a match-high 29 kills and hit .318 for Dakota Wesleyan.  Bly added 11 kills.  Elizabeth Tyler had nine kills, three service aces, and 14 digs.  Kayleigh Hybertson contributed a double-double of 56 set assists and 11 digs.  She had two aces.

Tya Weideman led the Tigers' defense with 33 digs.  Carlee Laubach added 18 digs.  Callie Slagter had 17 digs. 

Dakota Wesleyan smashed 63 kills in the match compared to Dakota State 54 kills.  The Tigers hit .172 (26 attack errors in 215 swings), while the Trojans hit .168 (23 attack errors in 185 attempts).  DSU had 15 blocks to DWU six blocks.

The Tigers amassed 104 digs in the match.  The Trojans had 99 digs.