October 30, 2024

VALLEY CITY, N.D. – Valley City State (N.D.) held off (RV) Dakota State (S.D.) in four sets in the North Star Athletic Association volleyball action Wednesday evening at Graichen Gym. The Vikings split the NSAA season series with the Trojans, with DSU holding the tiebreaker over VCSU after winning more sets (4-3; DSU swept VCSU at DSU Fieldhouse in three straight sets on Oct. 2).

Set scores were 26-24, 18-25, 25-22, 25-17.

Dakota State, who continued to receive votes (RV) since the NAIA Women's Volleyball Coaches' Preseason Poll, fell to 15-11 overall record and 4-5 NSAA conference record. Valley City State improved to 13-12 overall record and 5-4 record in the league.

DSU plays their final regular season contest Friday evening, traveling to Mayville State (N.D.).  The junior varsity match starts at 4 p.m., followed by the varsity match at 6 p.m. Valley City State hosts No. 6 ranked Bellevue (Neb.) on the same night.

Valley City State (N.D.) 3, (RV) Dakota State (S.D.) 1 – FINAL (26-24, 18-25, 25-22, 25-17)

Both teams traded series of runs in the early going of the first set. After Hannah Evans' kill to put DSU up 13-9, VCSU went on a 6-0 scoring tear to regain their lead to 15-13 after an attack error by the Trojans.

Trailing 18-16, Dakota State stormed back with a 5-0 scoring run capped by back-to-back kills by Hailey Wathen for a 21-18 lead. Macey Wathen smashed a kill to put DSU up 23-20.

Valley City State roared back by scoring four straight points to set up a set point opportunity at 24-23. Evans smashed a kill as the Trojans tied the first set at 24-24. Macy Fridgen smashed a kill to put VCSU up 25-24, followed by a miscue from DSU for a 26-24 set one victory and 1-0 match lead.

Dakota State outhit Valley City State 18-14 in the first set.  The Vikings hit .167 (five errors in 54 attempts) compared to the Trojans .150 hitting percentage (nine errors in 60 swings).

Down 5-4 in the second set, the Trojans erupted for six straight points to regain their lead at 10-5. DSU's lead grew to 17-10 and never trailed for the rest of the second set. Evans closed the second set with a solo block, giving a 25-18 victory and tied the match 1-1.

The Trojans recorded a hitting percentage of .186 (12 kills with four errors in 43 swings) and held the Vikings to .054 hitting percentage (13 kills with 10 errors in 56 attempts).

Dakota State raced to a 7-2 lead in the third set, highlighted by back-to-back kills from the Wathen's sisters (Hailey and Macey). Valley City State then went on a monstrous 11-2 scoring outburst, forcing the Trojans to call a timeout after VCSU's 13-9 lead.

DSU rallied back to tie at 22-22 in the third set, thanks to their 5-1 scoring run after trailing 21-18. VCSU went on to close the third set with three straight points for a 25-22 victory and regained their match lead at 2-1.

Valley City State hit .125 in the third set (15 kills with seven errors in 64 attempts) and held Dakota State to .033 hitting percentage (12 kills with 10 errors in 60 swings). 

The Vikings started the fourth set with a 7-2 lead after a service ace from Reagan Bogenreif. DSU could get no closer than two points at 14-12 after M. Wathen's kill. 

VCSU pulled away after going on a 6-1 scoring run to balloon their lead to 20-13 after Lexi Thorsgard's service ace. Morgan Freije closed the match with a kill to give the Vikings a 25-17 victory and secured the match at 3-1.

Valley City State smashed 19 kills and hit .386 (committed two attack errors in 44 attempts) in the fourth set.  Dakota State registered 13 kills and hit .233 (committed three attack errors in 43 swings).

H. Wathen led the Trojans with a season-high 14 kills.  Sydney Schell posted a double-double of 12 kills and tied her career high 26 digs.  M. Wathen tallied 11 kills and four blocks.  Brooklyn Grage registered seven kills. Evans had five kills and three blocks.

Madalyn Groft contributed 24 set assists and nine digs for Dakota State. Maddi Langerock added a double-double of 20 set assists and 14 digs.  Groft and Langerock each registered a service ace.

Kate VanRooyan led DSU's defense with 29 digs.  Logan Conlin added a season-high 12 digs.

Fridgen led the Vikings with 17 kills and two blocks.  Morgan Nelson added 11 kills and two blocks.  Rosie Anderson had 10 kills.  Morgan Freije tallied nine kills. Emma Lucas had eight kills.

Sadie Hansen produced a double-double of 47 set assists and 20 digs for VCSU.  Bogenreif recorded two service aces.

JayCee Richter led Valley City State's defense with a match-high 30 digs.  Delanie Clarke added 17 digs.

Valley City State outhit Dakota State 61-55 in the match.  The Vikings hit .170 (24 attack errors in 218 swings) compared to the Trojans .141 hitting percentage (26 attack errors in 206 attempts).

There was a total of 220 digs combined by both teams, 114 digs by VCSU and a season-high 106 digs by DSU.

Both teams registered seven team blocks in the match. Valley City State had five service aces compared to Dakota State two aces.