September 23, 2023

MADISON, S.D. – Sydney Schell set another milestone at Dakota State (S.D.) Saturday afternoon, propelling the Trojans to a 3-0 sweep over Waldorf (Iowa) in the North Star Athletic Association women's volleyball action at DSU Fieldhouse.  The Trojans picked up their first NSAA conference victory this season by the set scores of 25-14, 25-15, and 25-18.

Dakota State, receiving votes in the latest NAIA Women's Volleyball Coaches' Top 25 national poll, improved to 8-8 overall record and 1-2 NSAA conference record.  Waldorf fell to 10-4 overall record and winless in three league contests (0-3 NSAA record).

DSU heads on the road Wednesday evening, visiting Mayville State (N.D.) in the North Star match.  The junior varsity team, who will host a triangular on Monday at DSU Fieldhouse with Iowa Lakes CC and Mount Marty (S.D.), begins at 4 p.m. followed by the varsity match at 6 p.m.  WU stays on the road next weekend at Dickinson State (N.D.) Friday and Valley City State (N.D.) next Saturday.

(RV) Dakota State (S.D.) 3, Waldorf (Iowa) 0 – FINAL (25-14, 25-15, 25-18)

Dakota State and Waldorf went through four ties and one lead change in the early going of the first set.  Leading 7-5, Schell ignited the Trojans' 6-0 scoring run with a kill and never trailed.

DSU scored the final three points of the first set to earn a 25-14 victory, capped by a kill by Macey Wathen followed by Madalyn Groft.  The Trojans outhit the Warriors 13-7 in the first set.  Dakota State hit .250 (5 errors in 32 attempts) and held Waldorf to minus .059 hitting percentage (9 errors in 34 swings).

The Trojans erupted the second set with a 7-1 lead, highlighted by a kill by Schell, a service ace from Julia Drietz, and four attack errors by the Warriors. 

Dakota State never trailed for the rest of the second set, closing with a 4-0 scoring run sparked by a kill from Gwendolyn Vongkasemsiri and a pair of kills from Hailey Wathen.

DSU hit .147 in the second set (9 kills with 4 errors in 34 swings) and limited WU to a negative .053 hitting percentage (8 kills with 10 errors in 38 attempts).

The Trojans and the Warriors battled back and forth with seven ties and five lead changes through the first 20 rallies.  Trailing 10-8, Dakota State went on a monstrous 9-0 scoring run to grab a 17-10 lead after a kill from Groft.

Schell smashed her 1,000^th career kill to set up the match point at 24-18 for Dakota State.  She closed the match with another kill to secure the 25-18 set three victory and 3-0 match win.

DSU hit an impressive .324 in the third set with 15 kills and committed just three attack errors in 37 swings.  Waldorf hit .111 with 11 kills and seven errors in 36 attempts.

Schell led the Trojans' offense attack with 14 kills and hit .324 in the match.  Brooklyn Grage added eight kills and registered a .438 hitting percentage.  Groft and Vongkasemsiri each collected four kills.

Groft and Maddi Langerock each contributed 16 set assists for DSU.  Schell and Groft each recorded seven digs.  Kate VanRooyan had a match-high 20 digs and two service aces.  Drietz, Langerock, and Hannah Thorsen each had a service ace.  H. Wathen and M. Wathen each had four blocks. 

Sydney Kidd had six kills for the Warriors.  Kenzie Kidd and Annie Stotlar each added five kills.  Anna Longhenry recorded four kills.

Emma Hovenga tallied 14 set assists and six digs for WU.  Kaylee Kidd had 18 digs.

Dakota State outhit Waldorf 37-26 in the match.  The Trojans hit .243 (12 errors in 103 swings) compared to the Warriors .000 hitting percentage (26 errors in 108 attempts).  DSU had nine blocks to WU two blocks. 

DSU was 93.2 percent at the serving line (5 aces and 5 errors in 73 serves).  WU recorded 91.8 percent from the serving line (3 aces and 4 errors in 49 attempts).