October 4, 2023
This Week's Preview
MADISON, S.D. (Oct. 4, 2023)—The Dakota State University Trojan volleyball team (8-10 overall record, 1-3 North Star record) looks to swing back in the winning column as they return home. The Trojans kick off their three-match North Star Athletic Association volleyball home stand at DSU Fieldhouse Friday versus Dickinson State (N.D.) (1-15 overall record, 1-3 NSAA conference record). First serve is set for 5 p.m.
Dakota State continues their North Star conference play Saturday afternoon as they welcome Valley City State (N.D.) (15-4 overall record, 3-1 NSAA conference record). The match is set for 1 p.m.
The Trojans conclude their three-match home stand on Tuesday evening in the annual Dig Pink volleyball match. DSU hosts nationally-ranked Bellevue (Neb.) (15-4 overall record, 3-1 NSAA record) to kick off the second half portion of the North Star Athletic Association schedule. First serve is slated for 6 p.m. Fans are encouraged to wear pink clothing to the volleyball match to support cancer awareness during the month of October.
Dakota State went 0-2 record on the road in their two previous matches before this weekend's contests. The Trojans fell short in a pair of five-set thrillers at Mayville State (N.D.) on Sept. 27 and at rival (RV) Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) on Oct. 3.
Dickinson State and Valley City State went 1-1 record in the North Star conference play, defeating Waldorf (Iowa) and losing to No. 6 ranked Viterbo (Wis.) at home last week. Bellevue held off the Comets in a five-set thriller in Mayville, N.D. on Sept. 29.
Next Up: Dakota State steps aside their NSAA conference play as they play a pair of non-conference matches in Bellevue, Neb., on Oct. 14. DSU stays on the road at Mount Marty (S.D.) on Oct. 17.
This Week's Quick Hits
+ This is the second time this season that Dakota State (S.D.) will be hosting a three-match home stand at DSU Fieldhouse. The last time DSU hosted a three-match home stand was on Aug. 26 (Dordt, Iowa and Mount Marty, S.D.) and Aug. 29 (Dakota Wesleyan, S.D.).
+ Dakota State have four home matches remaining on their 2023 schedule. After their three-match home stand, the Trojans play their final home contest on Nov. 4 versus Mayville State (N.D.).
+ DSU had won eight times in the last ten meetings with Dickinson State (N.D.), including the most recent meeting on Oct. 21, 2022 at DSU Fieldhouse. The Trojans swept the Blue Hawks in three straight sets.
+ Dakota State and Valley City State (N.D.) split their two meetings last season, with each team winning on their home court. The Trojans won the last meeting on Oct. 22, 2022, with a four-set victory in Madison.
+ DSU is seeking for their first win over Bellevue (Neb.) since Oct. 13, 2021, where the Trojans held on to beat the Bruins in a five-set thriller at DSU Fieldhouse. BU won the first meeting on Sept. 13 in four sets.
+ DSU's junior varsity team (8-6 overall record) returns to action on Oct. 17 as they visit Mount Marty (S.D.). The Trojans play in the Iowa Lakes CC triangular on Oct. 23 and close out their regular-season schedule with a home match versus Mayville State (N.D.) at DSU Fieldhouse on Nov. 4.
Trojans fall in five sets at Mayville State (N.D.)
Madison, S.D. (Sept. 27, 2023)—Mayville State (N.D.) recorded 20 more kills (67-47) than Dakota State (S.D.), holding to a 3-2 North Star Athletic Association thriller at Lewy Lee Fieldhouse. The Comets also hit .238 in the match and held the Trojans to .198 hitting efficiency.
Each team traded sets victories with MSU winning the first and third sets, while DSU won the second and fourth sets. Holding a 6-5 lead in the fifth set, the Comets went on a 5-0 scoring run and never looked back to secure the victory.
Sydney Schell led the Trojans' offense attack with 13 kills and hit .273.
Brooklyn Grage added nine kills and four blocks.
Madalyn Groft produced 23 set assists, five digs, and four kills.
Hannah Evans had six kills and three blocks.
Hailey Wathen had five kills and two blocks.
Kate VanRooyan led the defense with 22 digs.
Maddi Langerock contributed 17 assists and five digs.
Dakota State collected nine blocks in the match compared to Mayville State three blocks. MSU had six service aces, while the Trojans registered three service aces.
Trojans drop another five-set match to (RV) DWU
Mitchell, S.D. (Oct. 3, 2023)—Dakota State (S.D.) was unable to hold on to their 2-1 match lead over rival (RV) Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) 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 fifth and deciding set. After the Tigers won the first set 25-19, the Trojans won the next two sets at 25-22 and 25-19. Dakota Wesleyan rallied back to win the fourth set at 25-16 and held on to capture the fifth set at 15-11 for a 3-2 match victory.
Three Dakota State players posted double-doubles in the match, with
Sydney Schell recording 15 kills and a season-high 24 digs.
Madalyn Groft added a season-high 13 kills and 19 set assists. She tallied eight digs, two digs short for a triple-double.
Maddi Langerock produced a season-high 27 set assists and 12 digs. She also had four kills.
Brooklyn Grage had nine kills.
Hannah Evans registered a career-high nine blocks, which is tied for ninth most blocks in DSU's single-match record book.
Kate VanRooyan collected a season-high 32 digs.
Sophia Vanden Bosch added 13 digs.
Dakota Wesleyan smashed 63 kills in the match compared to Dakota State 54 kills. The Tigers hit .172 (26 attack errors in 215 attempts), while the Trojans hit .168 (23 attack error sin 185 attempts). Dakota State had a season-high 15 blocks, while Dakota Wesleyan had six blocks.
Looking ahead in the month of October
Madison, S.D. (Oct. 4, 2023)—Dakota State (S.D.) plays a total of 11 matches during the month of October, with three matches scheduled at home and eight matches away from the DSU Fieldhouse.
After their three-match home stand at DSU Fieldhouse, the Trojans play their remaining matches away from their home court. The Trojans head to Bellevue, Neb., on Oct. 14 to play a pair of matches in the Bellevue tournament. DSU faces Grand View (Iowa) in the first match, followed by their second meeting of the season against NAIA's nationally-ranked team Montana Tech from the Frontier Conference (DSU won the first meeting in three straight sets in the Viterbo Tournament in La Crosse, Wis., in early September when Montana Tech was ranked No. 10 in the match).
Dakota State plays their final non-conference match of the season at in-state rival Mount Marty (S.D.) on Oct. 17. The Trojans return to their North Star conference action, playing two straight weekends on the road. DSU travels to Waldorf (Iowa) on Oct. 20, nationally-ranked Viterbo (Wis.) on Oct. 21, Valley City State (N.D.) on Oct. 27 and concluding their road trip at Dickinson State (N.D.) on Oct. 28. Dakota State concludes their regular-season schedule versus Mayville State (N.D.) at DSU Fieldhouse on Nov. 4.
Trojans in the North Star conference
Madison, S.D. (Oct. 4, 2023)—According to the NAIA-PrestoStats as of Wednesday,
Sydney Schell ranks fourth overall in the North Star Athletic Association with 3.5 kills per set. She is also third overall with 240 kills for Dakota State.
Kate VanRooyan averages 5.01 digs per set prior to this weekend's matches, which is second best digs per set in the NSAA conference for DSU. She is also second overall in the league with 341 digs.
Gwendolyn Vongkasemsiri averages 0.93 blocks per set for Dakota State, ranking her fifth best blocks average in the North Star conference. She is eighth overall in the league with 50 blocks.
Dakota State is second overall in the North Star conference with 1,214 digs. The Trojans are third with 17.84 digs per set. Prior to the matches this weekend, DSU accumulated 129 blocks this season which is fourth most blocks in the NSAA conference.
2023 DSU Trojan Volleyball Team Leaders
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