October 30, 2024
This Week's Preview
MADISON, S.D. (Oct. 30, 2024)—The Dakota State University Trojan volleyball team (15-10 overall record, 4-4 North Star Athletic Association record, receiving votes—RV—in the 2024 NAIA Women's Volleyball Coaches' Top 25 Poll) concludes their regular-season schedule with a pair of road matches in the state of North Dakota.
The Trojans travel to Valley City State (N.D.) (12-12 overall record, 4-4 NSAA conference record) Wednesday evening in the North Star Athletic Association action. First serve is set for 6 p.m. at Graichen Gym (101 Viking Drive) on the campus of Valley City State in Valley City, N.D.
Dakota State plays their final regular-season contest on Friday evening at Mayville State (N.D.) (8-16 overall record, 1-7 NSAA conference record). The junior varsity squad, who will close out their 2024 season Friday afternoon, will take on the Comets at 4 p.m. The varsity match is set for 6 p.m. at Lewy Lee Fieldhouse (330 3rd Street NE) in Mayville, N.D.
The Trojans closed out their home regular-season schedule with a split in the North Star Athletic Association action at DSU Fieldhouse last week. Dakota State fell short to No. 2 ranked Jamestown (N.D.) in four closely tight sets on Oct. 25 and earned a 3-0 sweep over Dickinson State (N.D.) during Trojans' Seniors Day on Oct. 26.
Valley City State earned their North Star season series sweep of Mayville State, earning a 3-0 sweep over the Comets in Mayville on Oct. 24. Both teams will play nationally-ranked Bellevue (Neb.) in their final North Star Athletic Association regular-season match this weekend (at VCSU on Nov. 1 and at MSU on Nov. 2). This weekend will be the final chapter of the North Star Athletic Association regular season volleyball matches, where the league started in 2013-14 (No. 2 Jamestown, N.D. plays at Dickinson State, N.D. for the final NSAA conference match Thursday)..
Up Next: Dakota State will play one more home match at DSU Fieldhouse on Nov. 9 as they open their North Star Athletic Association postseason play. Opponent will be announced at a later time with the first serve set for 1 p.m.
This Week's Quick Hits
+Dakota State (S.D.) earned the first North Star conference meeting victory over Valley City State (N.D.) at DSU Fieldhouse on Oct. 2. The Trojans are seeking for their first win over the Vikings in Valley City, N.D., since March 12, 2021.
+DSU earned their third straight victory in the series meeting with Mayville State (N.D.), most recently with a 3-0 sweep over the Comets at DSU Fieldhouse on Oct. 5. The Trojans are seeking for their first win in Mayville, N.D., since Sept. 25, 2021.
+Dakota State and Valley City State had locked up a spot to host the first round of the North Star Athletic Association Postseason Tournament's first round on Nov. 9. Mayville State and Dickinson State (N.D.) will be playing on the road, while No. 8 ranked Bellevue (Neb.) and No. 2 ranked Jamestown (N.D.) received the opening round bye.
+DSU is 3-3 record on the road this season, with last road victory coming on Sept. 27 in Dickinson, N.D.
+The DSU's junior varsity team, who closed their home schedule with an undefeated 6-0 record after their home wins over Jamestown (N.D.) on Oct. 25 and Mount Marty (S.D.) on Oct. 28. The Trojans are 16-1 overall record and play their final match Friday afternoon at Mayville State (N.D.).
DSU to host NSAA postseason opening round on Nov. 9
Madison, S.D. (Oct. 30, 2024)—Dakota State (S.D.) will play one more home volleyball match at DSU Fieldhouse on Saturday, Nov. 9. The Trojans will be hosting the opening round of the North Star Athletic Association Postseason Tournament. The first serve is set for 1 p.m., with the opponent to be announced at a later date. Valley City State (N.D.) will be the other team to be the host of the opening round on the same day.
No. 8 ranked Bellevue (Neb.) and No. 2 ranked Jamestown (N.D.) had earned the opening round bye and will not play until the semifinals scheduled for Nov. 15. The No. 1 seed has not been determined until after this weekend's matches. Dickinson State (N.D.) and Mayville State (N.D.) will be on the road in the first round of the conference postseason tournament.
The NSAA Women's Volleyball Postseason Tournament's championship match is set for Saturday, Nov. 16. The winner of the tournament's championship match will receive the North Star Athletic Association's automatic bid to the NAIA Women's Volleyball National Tournament Opening Round on Nov. 23.
(RV) Trojans fall short to NSAA's leader (2) Jimmies
Madison, S.D. (Oct. 25, 2024)—Dakota State (S.D.) was unable to take advantage of No. 2 ranked Jamestown's (N.D.) 31 attack errors, despite being outhit 61-50 in a 3-1 North Star Athletic Association setback at DSU Fieldhouse. The Jimmies held on to the set scores of 27-25, 25-20, 20-25 and 27-25 in what could be potentially the final meeting between two teams before they make their transition to new athletics conferences next season.
Three different Trojan hitters produced double digit kills, led by
Hailey Wathen with 12 kills.
Macey Wathen and
Brooklyn Grage each added 10 kills.
Gwendolyn Vongkasemsiri tallied eight kills.
Sydney Schell recorded five kills.
Madalyn Groft produced a double-double of 28 set assists and 11 digs for Dakota State.
Maddi Langerock added 14 set assists.
Kate VanRooyan led DSU's defense with 25 digs. Schell added 15 digs. Vongkasemsiri registered four blocks, while Grage added three blocks. Groft, VanRooyan, and
Reagan VanRooyan each recorded a service ace.
Dakota State hit better in the match with .169 hitting percentage (50 kills with 20 attack errors in 177 swings) compared to Jamestown .162 hitting efficiency (61 kills with 31 errors in 185 swings). UJ was 92.9 percent at the serving line (7 errors in 98 attempts) to DSU 88.5 percent (11 errors in 96 attempts).
Seniors power (RV) DSU in 3-0 sweep over DiSU
Madison, S.D. (Oct. 25, 2024)—All five Dakota State (S.D.) seniors contributed in their home regular-season finale at DSU Fieldhouse, cruising past Dickinson State (N.D.) in three straight sets. The Trojans won by the set scores of 25-19, 25-17, and 25-18..
Dakota State took advantage of Dickinson State's double digit attack errors in all three sets. It was the Trojans' fifth straight victory in the series meeting with the Blue Hawks, their ninth win in the last 10 meetings..
DSU honored their five seniors prior to the match—
Hannah Evans,
Brooklyn Grage,
Madalyn Groft,
Sydney Schell, and
Hailey Wathen.
Wathen led the Trojans with 11 kills and two blocks. Grage and
Tristyn Maras each added six kills. Schell tallied five kills. Evans had four kills and eight blocks. Groft recorded a double-double of 19 set assists and 13 digs.
Maddi Langerock had 13 assists and eight digs.
Kate VanRooyan collected 26 digs.
DSU outhit Dickinson State 39-36, holding the Blue Hawks to .020 hitting percentage (DSU .223 hit%).
(RV) Trojans in the North Star conference ranks
Madison, S.D. (Oct. 30, 2024)—According to the NAIA-PrestoStats website as of Wednesday, Dakota State ranks third in the conference with 13.0 kills per set and hitting percentage of .211.
The Trojans lead the league in total digs with 1,712 total digs. DSU also leads the conference with 18.8 digs per set. Dakota State collects 211 total blocks, which atop the North Star conference. The Trojans lead the conference with 2.3 blocks per set.
Sydney Schell ranks fifth in the North Star conference with 248 total kills.
Gwendolyn Vongkasemsiri leads the league with 1.2 blocks per set for the Trojans.
Kate VanRooyan accumulates 486 digs this season for DSU, which is the most digs in the North Star conference. She averages 5.3 digs per set, which is second best average in the league.
Madalyn Groft is sixth in the conference with 5.7 set assists per set, while her teammate
Maddi Langerock is ninth with 4.5 assists per set.
2024 DSU Trojan Volleyball Team Leaders
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