October 2, 2024

MADISON, S.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) returned home at DSU Fieldhouse for the first time since Aug. 28, hosting Valley City State (N.D.) in the North Star Athletic Association volleyball match.  The Trojans hit .265 in the match to earn a 3-0 sweep over the Vikings in the battle of the NAIA Women's Volleyball's receiving votes (RV) in the national poll.  Set scores were 25-20, 25-18, and 26-24.

Dakota State earned their fourth victory in the last five matches, raising their overall record to 12-7.  Valley City State fell to 10-6 overall record.  Both teams are tied for third in the NSAA conference standings with a 2-2 conference record.

The third edition of the NAIA Women's Volleyball Coaches' Top 25 national poll was released Wednesday morning.  Both teams are listed in the receiving votes (RV) section, with VCSU ranking at No. 30 and DSU at No. 37.  It was the fourth straight national poll that the Trojans were listed in the NAIA's national poll receiving votes section.

Dakota State stays home Saturday as they conclude their first half portion of the North Star conference schedule.  The Trojans host Mayville State (N.D.) in the Dig Pink match, starting with the junior varsity match at 10 a.m. and varsity match at 12 p.m.

(RV) Dakota State (S.D.) 3, (RV) Valley City State (N.D.) 0 – FINAL (25-20, 25-18, 27-25)

Dakota State raced to a 5-1 opening lead, capped by a service ace from Sydney Schell.  Schell, Brooklyn Grage, and Gwendolyn Vongkasemsiri each recorded a kill during the Trojans' opening run.

With DSU leading 11-8, the Vikings scored three straight points to knot the first set at 11-11 after Macy Fridgen's kill.  Both teams battled back and forth in the new few rallies, as Rosie Anderson smashed a kill to extend VCSU's lead to 17-15.

Dakota State went on a 4-0 scoring run to regain their lead at 19-17, forcing Valley City State to call a timeout.  The Vikings could get no closer than one point at 21-20, as the Trojans closed the first set with a 4-0 scoring run, highlighted by a kill from Grage, a block assist from Macey Wathen and Hailey Wathen, and a service ace by Maddi Langerock.

VCSU outhit DSU 18-16 in the first set, but the Trojans hit better. Dakota State hit .385, committing just one attack error in 39 swings.  Valley City State hi .245 with five errors in 53 attempts.

The Trojans and Vikings went through a close battle in the first 25 rallies with five ties and three lead changes.  Leading 13-12, DSU stormed with a 6-0 outburst highlighted by Tristyn Maras' kill to balloon their lead to 19-13.

VCSU could get no closer than four points at 21-17 after Emma Lucas' kill.  DSU closed the second set with a 4-1 scoring run, securing at 25-18 victory and extending their match lead to 2-0 after Vongkasemsiri's kill.

The Trojans and the Vikings each registered 13 kills in the second set.  DSU hit .188 (4 errors in 48 attempts) compared to VCSU .094 hitting percentage (8 errors in 53 attempts).

Valley City State exploded for a 9-2 scoring run to break a 2-2 tie into a 11-4 lead, capped by a kill by Lucas.

Trailing 13-7, Dakota State roared with an 8-1 monstrous run thanks to three consecutive service aces from Kate VanRooyan to take a 15-14 lead.

Both teams went back and forth with a total of 11 ties and three lead changes in the third set.  Grage smashed a kill to give the Trojans a match point at 24-23.  Freije answered with a kill to tie at 24-24 for the Vikings. 

M. Wathen followed up with a kill for DSU's second match point opportunity at 25-24.  VCSU saved DSU's second match point with another kill from Freije. 

M. Wathen added a kill to give Dakota State a 26-25 lead and secured the victory at 27-25 as Maras smashed a kill. 

DSU and VCSU each had 18 kills in the third set.  The Trojans hit .246 (4 errors in 57 swings) compared to the Vikings .211 hitting percentage (6 errors in 57 attempts).

M. Wathen led a balanced Trojans' offense attack with 11 kills and hit .526 in the match.  Schell added a double-double of 10 kills and 12 digs.  Grage tallied eight kills.  H. Wathen had seven kills.  Maras recorded six kills.  Vongkasemsiri smashed five kills and hit .500.

Madalyn Groft contributed 21 set assists and collected nine digs for DSU.  Langerock added 17 assists and eight digs.  She tallied two aces.

VanRooyan had match-highs 28 digs and four service aces for Dakota State.  Reagan VanRooyan added 10 digs and two assists.  M. Wathen and Vongkasemsiri each had two blocks.

Fridgen led the Vikings with 14 kills and two blocks.  Lucas added 12 kills and three blocks.  Morgan Nelson tallied seven kills.  Freije had six kills.

Sadie Hansen posted a double-double of 40 set assists and 15 digs for VCSU.  JayCee Richter collected 20 digs.  Delani Clarke had 15 digs. 

Valley City State had two more kills than Dakota State, 49-47.  The Trojans hit .264 by committing nine attack errors in 144 swings.  The Vikings registered a hitting percentage of .184 (19 errors in 163 swings).

DSU was 96.1 percent at the serving line with eight aces and three errors in 76 attempts.  VCSU registered a service percentage of 95.3 percent, earning one ace and three errors in 64 serves.

Dakota State collected 77 digs in the match to Valley City State 73 digs.  The Vikings had five blocks to the Trojans four blocks.