August 29, 2023

MADISON, S.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) hosted rival nationally-ranked Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) Tuesday evening at DSU Fieldhouse, featuring a wild finish with series of runs.  Deadlocked at 2-2 going to the deciding set, the Tigers raced to a six-point lead before the Trojans stormed back to overtake the lead.  DWU went on to close the game by scoring the final six points to secure a 3-2 thriller over DSU.

Sydney Schell smashed a career-high 25 kills in the match, despite the setback for the Trojans who fell to 3-3 overall record.  Dakota Wesleyan, ranked No. 13 in the NAIA Women's Volleyball Coaches' Top 25 national poll, snapped their four-match losing skid to improve their overall record to 5-4.

It was the third straight meeting that DSU and DWU went to five sets.  Both teams will meet for the second meeting in Mitchell, S.D., on Oct. 3. 

Dakota State won the junior varsity match in three sets, lifting their overall record to 2-0 (16-25, 26-24, 15-10).

Dakota State, who won't be home until Sept. 21 versus nationally ranked Viterbo (Wis.) in the North Star Athletic Association action, continue their preseason tournament tune-up Friday and Saturday.  The Trojans play in the annual Labor Day Classic, hosted by College of Saint Mary's (Neb.) at United Sports Academy in Sioux City, Iowa.

DSU kicks off the tournament against Dordt (Iowa) Friday at 10 a.m., their second meeting in six days, followed by a 3 p.m. match with Bethel (Kan.).  On Saturday, Dakota State plays the NAIA top-ranked preseason team Jamestown (N.D.) at 9 a.m. and Mount Mercy (Iowa) at 3 p.m.

(13) Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) 3, Dakota State (S.D.) 2 – FINAL (21-25, 25-19, 25-23, 22-25, 15-12)

Dakota State ignited the first set with a 9-5 lead after Schell's kill, forcing Dakota Wesleyan to call its first timeout.  The Trojans ballooned their lead to 15-7 after Hailey Wathen's kill and never trailed for the rest of the first set.

DWU could get no closer than three points and could not overcome DSU's 18 kills and .311 hitting percentage in the opening set.  The Trojans grabbed a 1-0 lead after winning 25-22.  DWU hit .256 in the set with 15 kills.

The Tigers kicked off the second set with an 8-3 lead and never trailed to even the match at 1-1.  Dakota Wesleyan hit .244 and smashed 15 kills to earn a 25-19 victory.  Dakota State registered .109 hitting percentage and 10 kills in the second set.

DWU used a fast start in the third set, racing to a 7-2 lead after scoring four straight points.  Trailing 10-7, Dakota State used a 6-0 scoring outburst to earn a 13-10 lead sparked by a pair of kills from Hailey Wathen and a service ace from Julia Drietz.

With DSU leading 14-12, DWU answered with an 8-1 surge to regain their lead at 20-15 and forced DSU to call a timeout.  The Trojans responded with a 5-1 run to cut DWU's lead to 21-20 after a service ace by Kate VanRooyan. 

Dakota State saved one set point opportunity by Dakota Wesleyan after a service error by the Tigers (24-23).  Emily Dale closed the third set with a kill, giving DWU a 25-23 victory and grabbed a 2-1 match lead.

DWU hit .342 in the third set, with 15 kills and committed just two attack errors in 38 attempts.  DSU was .171 hitting percentage with 14 kills and recorded eight attack errors in 35 swings.

Dakota State and Dakota Wesleyan battled back and forth in the fourth set with five ties and three lead changes.  Trailing 10-8, the Trojans went on a 6-0 scoring run to earn a 14-10 lead after Maddi Langerock's kill.

Madalyn Groft smashed a kill to balloon DSU's lead to 21-16 before DWU went on a 3-0 scoring run to trim their lead to 21-19.  At 22-21, the Trojans scored the next two points after Wathen's kill and block assist by Wathen and Gwendolyn Vongkasemsiri to set up a set point chance at 24-21.

DWU saved one set point opportunity after Elizabeth Tyler's kill (DSU led 24-22).  A service error by the Tigers gave DSU a 25-22 set four victory, forcing the match into the fifth and deciding set.

Dakota State recorded a hitting percentage of .300 in the fourth set (15 kills with 3 errors in 40 swings) compared to Dakota Wesleyan .268 hitting efficiency (16 kills with 5 errors in 41 attempts).

After both teams scored the first point in the fifth set (tied 1-1), DWU went on a 5-0 scoring run to open a 6-1 lead after Tyler's service ace.  Dakota Wesleyan widened their lead to 9-3 after Abigail Brunsing's kill.

DSU roared back with a monstrous 8-0 scoring run to rally back for a 12-10 lead.  During the scoring run, Schell smashed three kills while Groft added two kills and Langerock hit with a service ace.

Dakota Wesleyan answered by scoring the final six points of the match to secure a wild 15-12 victory, capped by a block assist by Tyler and Dale.

DWU hit .200 in the fifth set and held DSU to .037 hitting efficiency.

Schell paced the Trojans with a match high 25 kills, breaking the previous high of 24 kills versus Valley City State (N.D.) on Oct. 22, 2022, at DSU Fieldhouse.  She posted a double-double with 14 digs and hit .352 in the match.

Wathen added 12 kills and three blocks for Dakota State.  Keira Murdock had six kills and two blocks.

Groft contributed 24 set assists and 13 digs for a double-double and smashed nine kills for DSU.  She had three service aces and two blocks.  Langerock added 25 assists, nine digs, and two service aces.  Macey Wathen and Vongkasemsiri each had four kills and four blocks.

VanRooyan had a season-high 26 digs to pace the Trojans' defense.  Sophia Vanden Bosch added 15 digs.

Ady Dwight led the Tigers' offense with 23 kills and hit .333 in the match.  She added three blocks.  Brunsing had 19 kills.  Tyler hit a double-double of 12 kills and 15 digs.  Dale recorded 11 kills and hit .370.

DWU's Kayleigh Hybertson produced 63 set assists and 11 digs for a double-double.  Tya Weideman collected a match high 37 digs.  Carlee Laubah added 12 digs. And Callie Slagter had 10 digs.

Dakota Wesleyan outhit Dakota State 70-63 in the match.  The Tigers hit .266 (20 attack errors in 188 swings) compared to the Trojans .197 hitting percentage (25 attack errors in 193 attempts). 

DSU was 94.3 percent from the serving line with seven aces and six errors in 105 attempts.  DWU registered 92.5 service percentage with five aces and six errors in 107 serves.

The Trojans had nine blocks to the Tigers five blocks.  DWU had one more dig than DSU (92-91).