November 9, 2023
This Week's Preview
MADISON, S.D. (Nov. 9, 2023)—The Dakota State University Trojan volleyball team (15-14 overall record, 6-6 North Star record) prepares for the 2023 North Star Athletic Association postseason tournament this weekend. Under a new three-day conference tournament format this season, the fourth-seeded Trojans kick off the postseason play in the quarterfinals round Thursday evening versus fifth-seeded Mayville State (N.D.) (15-10 overall record, 6-6 NSAA record). First serve is set for 6 p.m. in Watertown, S.D.
The first NSAA quarterfinal match features No. 6 seed Waldorf (Iowa) (12-14 overall record) taking on No. 3 seed Bellevue (Neb.) (22-8 overall record, No. 15 ranked in the national poll). Top-seeded Viterbo (Wis.) (28-4 overall record, No. 5 in the national poll) and No. 2 seed Valley City State (N.D.) (22-8 overall record, receiving votes in the national poll) secured a spot in the NSAA semifinals on Friday evening. The tournament is being played at the Civic Arena on the campus of Watertown High School (200 NE 9th Street).
Dakota State closed out their regular-season schedule with a 3-0 sweep over Mayville State (N.D.) at DSU Fieldhouse on Nov. 4. Both the Trojans and the Comets finished in a two-way tie for fourth place, DSU earned the tiebreaker by winning more sets than MSU (5 sets won to 3 sets won).
Mayville State also fell to nationally ranked Bellevue in three straight sets on Nov. 3 in Bellevue, Neb.
Dakota State's junior varsity volleyball team completed their 2023 schedule with a 2-1 victory over the Comets on Nov. 4. The Trojans completed with an overall record of 10-5, finishing their home schedule with a perfect 4-0 record.
Next Up: The NAIA National Tournament Opening Round is set for Saturday, Nov. 18, at campus sites. The winners will move on to the final site at Tyson Events Center in Sioux City on Nov. 29-Dec. 5. in Sioux City.
This Week's Quick Hits
+ Dakota State (S.D.) earned their fourth straight home match victory over Mayville State (N.D.) after their 3-0 sweep at DSU Fieldhouse on Nov. 4.
+ The Trojans finished their home schedule with a 6-3 record, extending the home court winning record for the sixth straight year.
+ Dakota State and Mayville State are meeting in the North Star Athletic Association postseason play for the first time since Nov. 12, 2014, when they met in the NSAA semifinals at DSU Fieldhouse.
+ The Trojans are 6-4 record on neutral sites this season, which included preseason tournaments with wins over nationally ranked squads of Jamestown (N.D.)—who is currently ranked No. 9 in the final national poll and Montana Tech—who is currently No. 11 in the national poll.
+ The Trojans had three wins over the NAIA's Top 25 nationally ranked teams this season. DSU defeated the NAIA national defending champion Jamestown (N.D.) and Montana Tech during the month of September. DSU also earned a home victory over No. 15 ranked Bellevue (Neb.) in the North Star conference play on Oct. 10 at DSU Fieldhouse.
+ The NAIA National Tournament Opening Round is slated for Saturday, Nov. 17, at campus sites.
2023 North Star Postseason Tournament overview
Watertown, S.D. (Nov. 9, 2023)—The top six in the North Star Athletic Association women's volleyball team play in the 'Super Six' Tournament at Watertown Civic Arena on Nov. 9 through Nov. 11. This is the first year that the postseason tournament had been expanded to three days.
Viterbo (Wis.) is the No. 1 seed for the postseason tournament, while Valley City State (N.D.) edged Bellevue (Neb.) for the No. 2 seed. The Vikings earned the tiebreaker over the Bruins by one point.
No. 4 seed belongs to Dakota State (S.D.) after owning a tiebreaker with Mayville State (N.D.) in numbers of sets won. Waldorf (Iowa) secured the final bid to the NSAA postseason tournament after defeating Dickinson State (N.D.) on the last day of regular-season finale. The Warriors secured a seven-point advantage over the Blue Hawks for the sixth spot (both meetings went to five sets).
The winner of the NSAA postseason tournament will receive an automatic bid to the NAIA National Tournament Opening Round, which is slated for Saturday, Nov. 18 at campus sites.
Trojans sweep Comets in regular-season finale
Madison, S.D. (Nov. 4, 2023)—Dakota State (S.D.) smashed 47 kills and only committed nine attack errors in their regular-season finale at DSU Fieldhouse, sweeping Mayville State (N.D.) in three straight sets in the North Star Athletic Association action.
The Trojans' offense erupted for six kills to open an 8-1 run in the first set and never trailed. DSU won the first set by the score of 25-12, thanks to their impressive .452 hitting percentage. DSU won the second set by the score of 25-20 to extend their match lead to 2-0. Both teams went through a see-saw battle in the third set before Dakota State went on a 6-1 closing run for a 25-19 win and sealing the match victory.
Four DSU hitters recorded at least .300 hitting percentage in the match.
Sydney Schell and
Brooklyn Grage each smashed 12 kills for the Trojans. Schell produced a double-double with 13 digs.
Madalyn Groft collected eight kills, including the securing the match victory with a kill.
Maddi Langerock contributed 37 set assists and nine digs.
Kate VanRooyan tallied a match-high 17 digs.
Dakota State had 14 more kills than Mayville State (47-33). The Trojans hit .355 in the match and limited the Comets to .115 hitting percentage with 20 attack errors in 113 swings. DSU was 94.6 percent from the serving line with one ace and four errors in 74 serves. MSU registered a service percentage of 94.2 percent with two aces and three errors in 52 serves).
Three Trojans earn NSAA awards in Watertown, S.D.
Watertown, S.D. (Nov. 8, 2023)—Three Dakota State (S.D.) athletes were honored on the eve of the North Star Athletic Association women's volleyball postseason tournament at Goss Opera House in downtown Watertown. The NSAA announced its All-Conference teams, postseason awards, and Champions of Character recipients.
Sydney Schell became a three-time North Star Athletic Association All-Conference selection at Dakota State. She was named to the First Team All-Conference for the second straight year (Second Team in 2021-22 and First Team in 2022-23). She leads the team with 360 kills and 3.6 kills, which are third in the North Star conference.
Kate VanRooyan was selected to the NSAA Women's Volleyball Second Team All-Conference. She was also chosen as the North Star Athletic Association Freshman of the Year. Prior to the tournament, she collected 553 digs which is second most digs in the league. She is also second in the North Star with 5.6 digs per set during conference play.
Madalyn Groft was this year's recipient for the NSAA Champions of Character for Dakota State.
Trojans in the North Star conference ranks
Madison, S.D. (Nov. 9, 2023)—According to the NAIA-PrestoStats as of Thursday morning,
Kate VanRooyan leads the North Star Athletic Association overall with 553 digs. She is also second in the league with 5.17 digs per set for Dakota State.
Sydney Schell is third in both total kills with 360 kills and kills per set with 3.60 kills per set for the Trojans. She is third in the conference with 3.22 kills per set in 10 NSAA contests.
Brooklyn Grage is fifth overall in the North Star with .254 hitting percentage.
Dakota State leads the North Star Athletic Association in overall digs with 1,986 digs. The Trojans are third with 18.56 digs per set as a team. DSU led for most digs per set with 18.68 digs per set in 12 North Star contests. The Trojans leads the league with 822 digs.
DSU produces the third most blocks in the NSAA with 213 total blocks. Trojan
Gwendolyn Vongkasemsiri ranks third in the North Star conference with 1.01 blocks per set.
2023 DSU Trojan Volleyball Team Leaders
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