September 26, 2023
This Week's Preview
MADISON, S.D. (Sept. 26, 2023)—The Dakota State University Trojan volleyball team (8-8 overall record, 1-2 North Star record, receiving votes in the latest NAIA national poll) travels to Lewy Lee Fieldhouse (330 3rd Street NE) in Mayville, N.D. as they continue their North Star Athletic Association action. The Trojans take on Mayville State (N.D.) (9-4 overall record, 1-1 NSAA record) with a junior varsity match at 4 p.m., followed by the varsity match at 8 p.m.
DSU steps outside of their North Star conference play next Tuesday (Oct. 3). The Trojans remain on the road as they visit rival Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) (11-9 overall record, receiving votes in the NAIA national poll). The junior varsity match starts at 5 p.m., followed by the varsity match at 7 p.m. at Christian Athletic Center (1200 W University Ave.) on the campus of DWU in Mitchell.
Dakota State returned home at DSU Fieldhouse in nearly a month and went 1-1 record in the North Star Athletic Association play. The Trojans fell to No. 6 ranked Viterbo (Wis.) in four sets on Sept. 21 and earned their first North Star conference win after sweeping past Waldorf (Iowa) in three straight sets on Sept. 23.
Mayville State kicked off their North Star volleyball conference season on Sept. 20, falling to (RV) Valley City State (N.D.) in three straight sets. The Comets earned their first NSAA conference win of the season with a 3-1 victory at Dickinson State (N.D.) on Sept. 21. Dakota Wesleyan suffered a pair of setbacks, falling shot at home versus No. 16 ranked Jamestown (N.D.) on Sept. 22 and at No. 9 in three straight sets on Sept. 23. DWU is scheduled to play Great Plains Athletic Conference matches this week.
Next Up: Dakota State resumes to North Star conference play as they return home on Oct. 6 versus Dickinson State (N.D.) with a 5 p.m. first serve and Valley City State (N.D.) on Oct. 7 with a 1 p.m. first serve.
This Week's Quick Hits
+ After Dakota State's (S.D.) three straight victories in the series meeting with Mayville State (N.D.), MSU took the last meeting in a five-set thriller on Oct. 28, 2022, in Mayville, N.D.
+ The Trojans and the Comets will meet for their second North Star conference meeting during their final regular-season match on Nov. 4 at DSU Fieldhouse..
+ Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) won the first meeting with Dakota State earlier this season at DSU Fieldhouse. The Tigers won in a five-set thriller, which saw series of runs by both teams in the deciding set.
+ The last three meetings between DSU and DWU went to five sets.
+ Dakota State is seeking for their first win over Dakota Wesleyan since Oct. 5, 2021, which was held in Mitchell, S.D. The Trojans won in four sets over the Tigers.
+ DSU's junior varsity team (8-3 overall record) completed an undefeated triangular on Sept. 25, sweeping past Iowa Lakes CC and Mount Marty (S.D.) in three straight sets in both matches. DSU faces Mayville State (N.D.) Wednesday and Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) in their upcoming junior varsity matches..
+ According to the NAIA-PrestoStats as of Tuesday, Dakota State ranks 17th in the NAIA in digs per set with 18.4 digs per set and 35th with 1,067 total digs.
Another milestone reached at Dakota State (S.D.)
Madison, S.D. (Sept. 23, 2023)—A third milestone had been reached during the month of September during Dakota State's (S.D.) 3-0 sweep of Waldorf (Iowa) in the North Star Athletic Association action at DSU Fieldhouse.
Sydney Schell surpassed her 1,000th career kill to set up the Trojans' match point at 24-18. She followed up with another kill to secure the match victory, totaling 14 kills in the match. After the match, Schell recorded 1,001 kills during her career at Dakota State.
It was her second 1,000 career milestone set during the month of September. She also reached the 1,000-career digs during DSU's 3-0 victory over previously ranked No. 10 Montana Tech in the Viterbo (Wis.) Tournament on Sept. 9. She currently have 1,040 digs during her career at DSU.
Madalyn Groft was also honored along with Schell for the 1,000-dig career milestone on Sept. 21. Groft had accumulated 1,053 digs during her career at Dakota State. She also amassed 2,297 set assists during her career, which is fifth most set assists in Trojan volleyball program history.
(6) Viterbo (Wis.) pulls away past (RV) Dakota State (S.D.)
Madison, S.D. (Sept. 21, 2023)—Dakota State (S.D.) faced the NAIA's nationally-ranked team for the fifth time in the last seven matches, hosting No. 6 ranked Viterbo (Wis.) in the North Star home opener at DSU Fieldhouse. The V-Hawks pulled away past the Trojans in four sets.
Viterbo won the first two sets by identical scores of 25-17 to earn a 2-0 match lead, thanks to their 30 kills combined in the first two sets and limited the Trojans to 19 kills combined in two sets. DSU took advantage of VU's 10 attack errors in the third set to earn a 25-19 victory to extend the match into the fourth set. Viterbo went on a 9-1 closing run to close the match with a 25-15 set four victory and claimed a 3-1 match victory.
Brooklyn Grage smashed eight kills for Dakota State.
Sydney Schell added six kills.
Macey Wathen had four kills and four blocks.
Madalyn Groft contributed 10 set assists, four kills, and three digs.
Maddi Langerock produced 16 set assists and seven digs.
Kate VanRooyan led the Trojans' defense with 18 digs.
Sophia Vanden Bosch added 11 digs.
Viterbo outhit Dakota State 53-35 in the match. The V-Hawks hit .200 (24 attack errors in 145 swings) and held the Trojans to .083 hitting efficiency (24 attack errors in 132 attempts). DSU collected eight blocks compared to VU six blocks. Both teams registered two service aces.
(RV) Trojans rout Warriors in three straight sets
Madison, S.D. (Sept. 23, 2023)—
Sydney Schell set another milestone as Dakota State (S.D.) earned its first North Star Athletic Association victory with a 3-0 sweep over Waldorf (Iowa) at DSU Fieldhouse.
The Trojans held to negative hitting percentage in the first two sets, cruising to a 2-0 match lead after winning the first two set by the scores of 25-14 and 25-15. Schell smashed her 1,000th career kill to set up a match point at 24-18 and went on to win 3-0 after Schell closed the match with another kill for a 25-18 victory.
Schell finished the match with 14 kills and hit .324 for DSU.
Brooklyn Grage added eight kills and hit .438.
Madalyn Groft and
Maddi Langerock each contributed 16 set assists.
Kate VanRooyan tallied 20 digs and two service aces.
Gwendolyn Vongkasemsiri,
Hailey Wathen, and
Macey Wathen each had four blocks.
Dakota State outhit Waldorf 37-26 in the match. The Trojans hit .243 (12 errors in 103 swings) and limited the Warriors to .000 hitting percentage (26 attack errors in 108 attempts). DSU collected nine blocks compared to WU two blocks. Dakota State had five service aces to Waldorf three aces.
DSU in the North Star conference ranks
Madison, S.D. (Sept. 26, 2023)—According to the NAIA-PrestoStats as of Tuesday,
Sydney Schell averages 3.7 kills per set this season for Dakota State. She ranks third in the league in kills per set and third in total kills with 212 kills.
Gwendolyn Vongkasemsiri ranks fourth in the North Star conference with 0.98 blocks per set and ninth in total blocks with 45 blocks.
Kate VanRooyan is second in the league in both digs per set and total digs for the Trojans. She averages 4.95 digs per set and accumulates 287 digs prior to this week's match.
Dakota State is second in the North Star Athletic Association in overall digs with 1,067 digs. The Trojans are third in the league in digs per set with an average of 18.4 digs per set. DSU is also second in the North Star with 184 total digs during league contests, as well as fourth in the conference with 16.7 digs per set. Dakota State is tied for second in total service aces in conference matches with 10 aces.
2023 DSU Trojan Volleyball Team Leaders
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