September 19, 2023
This Week's Preview
MADISON, S.D. (Sept. 19, 2023)—The Dakota State University Trojan volleyball team (7-7 overall record, 0-1 North Star record, receiving votes in the latest NAIA national poll) returns home at DSU Fieldhouse for the first time in nearly a month. The Trojans continue their North Star Athletic Association action as they face another nationally ranked opponent, Viterbo (Wis.) (14-2 overall record, 1-0 NSAA) who had won seven straight matches prior to this week's matches. First serve is set for 6 p.m. Trojan Spirit Day is the theme for the volleyball match, wear your DSU clothing gear to the volleyball match.
DSU stays home Saturday as they play another North Star contest versus Waldorf (Iowa) (9-2 overall record, 0-1 NSAA conference record). First serve is set for 1 p.m. Country is the theme for the volleyball match. DSU's volleyball alumni weekend will also be held on Saturday.
Dakota State fell to No. 12 ranked Bellevue (Neb.) in the North Star Athletic Association volleyball season opener in Bellevue (Neb.) on Sept. 13. The Bruins won the first two sets by the scores of 25-11 and 25-22 before the Trojans extended the match into the fourth set after a 25-15 set three victory, thanks to their .226 hitting percentage. BU earned a 25-16 set four victory to earn a 3-1 match victory over DSU.
Waldorf went 1-1 for the week, falling to No. 6 Viterbo in the conference opener in three straight sets (25-12, 25-17, 25-21) on Sept. 13.  The Warriors played their home opener versus Union (Neb.) on Sept. 17, earning a three set sweep (25-11, 25-11, 25-18). WU is scheduled to play three matches on three straight days, starting at Union Thursday, No. 12 Bellevue (Neb.) Friday, and Dakota State Saturday.
Next Up:  Dakota State plays its lone NSAA contest next Wednesday, visiting Mayville State (N.D.) at Lewy Lee Fieldhouse. The Trojans stay on the road on Oct. 3 as they visit rival Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.).
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This Week's Quick Hits
+ Dakota State (S.D.) will be facing the NAIA Women's Volleyball Top 25 nationally ranked team for the fifth time in the last seven matches on Thursday.
+ The Trojans are seeking for their first win over Viterbo (Wis.) since Oct. 10, 2020, where DSU defeated VU in four sets at DSU Fieldhouse.Â
+ DSU and VU went to five sets in the last two meetings last year.Â
+ Dakota State had won the last nine meetings in the series meeting with Waldorf (Iowa), including a season series sweep last season. DSU won the last meeting at DSU Fieldhouse on Nov. 5, 2022, in four sets.
+ The Trojan junior varsity team went undefeated 4-0 record in the North Dakota State College of Science tournament in Wahpeton, N.D. on Sept. 15-16. DSU defeated Central Lakes CC (Minn.), Jamestown (N.D.), Minnesota State Community & Technical College, and Iowa Central CC in the tournament.
+ DSU's junior varsity team (6-2 overall record) visits Minnesota West CC on Wednesday evening before returning home Monday for a home triangular with Iowa Central CC and Mount Marty (S.D.).
+ According to the NAIA-PrestoStats as of Tuesday, Dakota State ranks eighth in the nation with 18.8 digs per set.Â
Sydney Schell ranks 19th in the NAIA with 192 total kills.
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Trojans return to NAIA's Top 25 national poll
Kansas City, Mo. (Sept. 13, 2023)—Dakota State (S.D.) returns to the NAIA Women's Volleyball Coaches' Top 25 national poll in the second edition of the national poll. DSU collected 28 points to the national poll and listed in the receiving votes (RV) section of the Top 25 national poll (No. 33 spot).
Dakota State earned two victories over NAIA's Top 25 nationally ranked teams this season. The Trojans defeated the national defending champion and previously ranked No. 17 Jamestown (N.D.) (current ranking at No. 16) on Sept. 2 in the Labor Day Class in North Sioux City, S.D.
DSU earned their second win over NAIA's Top 25 nationally ranked team on Sept. 9 in the Viterbo (Wis.) Tournament. The Trojans swept previously No. 10 ranked Montana Tech, who is currently No. 11 in the national poll, in three straight sets.
Three other North Star members were listed on the national poll, with Viterbo (Wis.) at No. 6 and Bellevue (Neb.) at No. 12. Valley City State (N.D.) received votes recognition (RV) with five points.
(12) Bruins down (RV) Trojans in NSAA opener
Bellevue, Neb. (Sept. 13, 2023)—NAIA's nationally ranked Bellevue (Neb.) outhit Dakota State (S.D.) 63-39 to earn a 3-1 North Star Athletic Association women's volleyball season opener victory at Gordon Lozier Athletic Center. The Bruins won by the set scores of 25-11, 25-22, 15-25, and 25-16.
BU raced to a 12-3 opening lead and never trailed in the first set. The Bruins outhit DSU 15-5 in the opening set.  Both teams went through a closely tight second set as Bellevue extended their lead to 2-0 after pounding 20 hits and hit .410. The Trojans stormed to a 4-0 lead in the third set to pave the way to a 25-15 victory to extend the match into the fourth set. The Bruins started the fourth set with an 8-4 lead and secured the victory. Â
Three Dakota State players produced double-doubles, led by
Sydney Schell with 15 kills and 10 digs. She hit .298 in the match.Â
Maddi Langerock contributed 20 set assists and 15 digs.Â
Madalyn Groft tallied 11 assists and 15 digs.Â
Makenzie Coplan registered six kills and two blocks. Katie Murdock added five kills and three blocks. Katie VanRooyan led the Trojans' defense with 19 digs.Â
Dakota State recorded nine blocks in the match compared to Bellevue six blocks. The Bruins collected 88 digs to the Trojans 77 digs. Bellevue hit .210 in the match (63 kills with 24 errors in 186 swings) compared to Dakota State .132 hitting efficiency (39 kills with 18 errors in 159 attempts).
2022-23 DSU volleyball earns NAIA scholar team
Kansas City, Mo. (Sept. 15, 2023)—The 2022-23 Dakota State University Trojan volleyball squad, under the direction of head coach
Amy Veenhof, received another prestigious academic honor. The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics announced its honorees that over 2,200 NAIA Scholar Teams as part of its annual Awards Day.
The Dakota State Athletics department established a new school record of 12 athletics programs being named to NAIA Scholar Team, including the Trojan volleyball program. The previous record was 11 teams in 2021-22 academic year.
For the NAIA Scholar Team award, a team must have a minimum grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale as defined by the institution.  Â
The 2022-23 Dakota State University Trojan volleyball team posted a grade point average of 3.43. Veenhof's teams also consistently achieve above a 3.0 cumulative grade point average, earning NAIA Scholar Team for the 12th time.
Trojans in the North Star conference ranks
Madison, S.D. (Sept. 19, 2023)—According to the NAIA-PrestoStats as of Tuesday,
Sydney Schell ranks third in the North Star Athletic Association with 3.76 kills per set and 192 total kills for Dakota State (S.D.).   Â
Kate VanRooyan leads the North Star conference with 4.88 digs per set for the Trojans. She is also third overall in total digs with 249 digs.
Gwendolyn Vongkasemsiri averages 0.93 blocks per set, which is fifth best blocks average in the league for DSU.Â
Madalyn Groft is sixth in the North Star conference with 5.31 set assists per set, while
Maddi Langerock is 10th in the conference with 4.52 set assists per set. Groft is 10th in the conference with 155 total digs, while Schell is 11th in the North Star with 153 digs.
Dakota State is second in the North Star Athletic Association in overall digs with 960 digs. The Trojans lead the league with 18.8 digs per set. DSU ranks second in the NSAA with 1,028 total receptions and fifth with 550 set assists.
2023 DSU Trojan Volleyball Team Leaders
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