October 26, 2024

MADISON, S.D. – Dakota State's (S.D.) five seniors powered past Dickinson State (N.D.) in three straight sets in the North Star Athletic Association volleyball action Saturday afternoon at DSU Fieldhouse.  The Trojans held the Blue Hawks to a .020 hitting percentage (36 kills with 33 attack errors in 152 swings).  DSU won by set scores of 25-19, 25-17, and 25-18.  DiSU committed double-digits attack errors in each set.

Dakota State, receiving votes in the latest NAIA Women's Volleyball Coaches' Top 25 national poll, improved to 15-10 overall record and 4-4 record in the league.  DiSU fell to 5-19 overall record and 1-8 NSAA conference record.

It was the fifth straight victory in the series meeting for the Trojans, their ninth win in the last 10 meetings.

The Trojans honored five seniors – Hannah Evans, Brooklyn Grage, Madalyn Groft, Sydney Schell, and Hailey Wathen – prior to the match in their final home regular-season match.  They will play one more home volleyball match on Saturday, Nov. 9 in the opening round of the North Star Athletic Association postseason tournament. 

Dakota State closes out their North Star conference play with a pair of road matches next week.  The Trojans make their first stop at Valley City State (N.D.) on Wednesday evening.  The first serve is set for 6 p.m. at W.E. Osmon Fieldhouse in Valley City, N.D.

(RV) Dakota State (S.D.) 3, Dickinson State (N.D.) 0 – FINAL (25-19, 25-17, 25-18)

Trailing 4-3 in the opening set, Dakota State went on a 7-2 scoring run to grab a 10-6 lead.  Evans highlighted the Trojans' scoring run with a pair of blocks.

DSU never trailed for the rest of the first set.  The Blue Hawks could get no closer than three points at 17-14 after Abby Suiter's kill.  Dakota State then went on a 5-1 scoring run to balloon their lead to 22-15.

Tristyn Maras smashed a kill to close the first set at 25-19, giving DSU a 1-0 match lead.  The Trojans hit .333 in the first set with 14 kills and committed just one attack error in 39 swings.  DiSU was held to .089 hitting percentage with 15 kills and 11 attack errors in 45 attempts.

Dakota State kicked off the second set with a 4-1 lead, thanks to seniors taking part in the opening run.  Grage and Evans began with a block, while Grage added a pair of kills and Wathen added a kill.

Dickinson State overtook the lead at 8-7 after a 7-3 scoring run, capped by Scarlette Schwindt's kill.  The Trojans then scored three straight points to overtake an 11-10 lead after Groft's kill.

Leading 15-13, Dakota State closed the second set with a 10-4 scoring run for a 25-17 victory to extend their match lead to 2-0. 
The Trojans hit .152 in the second set (12 kills with five errors in 46 attempts) compared to the Blue Hawks .018 hitting percentage (11 kills with 10 errors in 56 attempts).

Wathen sparked DSU's 3-0 opening run with a kill followed by a pair of kills by Grage in the third set.  Dickinson State trimmed the Trojans' lead to 10-9 after Makyah Albrecht's kill. 

Both teams traded 4-0 scoring runs, starting with the Trojans opening a 14-9 lead followed by the Blue Hawks to cut their deficit to 14-13.

At 15-14, Dakota State stormed with a 6-1 scoring run capped by Schell's kill for 21-15 lead in the third set.

The Trojans secured the match with back-to-back kills by Wathen's sisters.  Macey Wathen smashed a kill to set up a match point at 24-18, followed by a kill from Hailey for a 25-18 victory.

Dakota State outhit Dickinson State 13-10 in the third set.  The Trojans hit .200 (four attack errors in 45 swings), while the Blue Hawks hit a negative .039 (12 attack errors in 51 attempts).

H. Wathen led DSU with 11 kills and two blocks.  Grage and Maras each added six kills.  Schell tallied five kills.  Evans recorded four kills.

Groft posted a double-double of 19 set assists and 13 digs for Dakota State.  She also had three kills.  Maddi Langerock contributed 13 assists and eight digs. 

Kate VanRooyan led the Trojans' defense with 26 digs.  Schell added 12 digs.  Evans collected eight blocks.  Grage added five blocks.

Suiter led the Blue Hawks with nine kills.  Schwindt added eight kills.  Madi Wahl recorded seven kills.  Rylee Kogolshak had a double-double of 31 set assists and 13 digs. 

Schwindt tallied 18 digs for Dickinson State.  Haydin Henschel added 17 digs.  Aubrey Allison recorded 13 digs.  Abigail Beddes had 11 digs.

Dakota State outhit Dickinson State 39-36 in the match.  The Trojans hit .223 (10 attack errors in 130 attempts).

DSU collected 10 team blocks compared to DiSU one block.