November 22, 2024
This Week's Preview
MADISON, S.D. (Nov. 21, 2024)—The Dakota State University Trojan volleyball team (18-12 overall record, 5-5 North Star Athletic Association record, receiving votes—RV—in the 2024 NAIA Women's Volleyball Coaches' Top 25 Final Poll) looks to extend their 2024 season as they continue their postseason action. After competing in the North Star Athletic Association and thanks to their signature victory over No. 3 ranked Jamestown (N.D.) in the NSAA semifinals on Nov. 15, the Trojans were invited to compete in the NAIA National Tournament Opening Round for the third time in the past six seasons.
Dakota State travels to Wikert Events Center Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m. to face Midland (Neb.) (17-11 overall record, No. 20 in the NAIA Women's Volleyball Coaches' Top 25 final poll) of the Great Plains Athletic Conference. First serve is set for 1 p.m. in Fremont, Neb.
The Trojans are coming off their 1-1 record at the final site of the North Star Athletic Association postseason tournament in Bellevue, Neb., last weekend. DSU earned a 3-2 thrilling victory over nationally ranked Jamestown in the semifinals on Nov. 15, ending their series meeting in the NAIA. DSU fell short in the final ever NSAA postseason tournament's championship match to host and No. 5 ranked Bellevue (Neb.) in three straight sets on Nov. 16.
Midland went 12-4 in the Great Plains Athletic Conference, finishing third in the conference standings. The Warriors won the opening round at home in three straight sets over Dordt (Iowa) on Nov. 9, before falling to No. 2 ranked Concordia (Neb.) in three straight sets on Nov. 13.Â
Both teams are meeting for the first time since Oct. 19, 2012, in Fremont.Â
Up Next:  The 24 NAIA National Tournament Opening Round winners on Saturday will move on to the final site at Tyson Events Center in Sioux City, Iowa, on Dec. 4-10. Those 24 teams will play a pool play of two matches on Dec. 4-6, with the top teams in each pool will play in a single-elimination bracket play on Dec. 7, 9-10.
This Week's Quick Hits
+Dakota State (S.D.) returns to the NAIA Women's Volleyball National Tournament fir the first time since 2021. It will be the third time overall in DSU women's volleyball program history to qualify for the NAIA national tournament (2019).
+The Trojans faced their third different opponent in the NAIA Women's Volleyball National Tournament in program history. DSU faced Saint Mary (Kan.) in 2019 national tournament opening round and Grand View (Iowa) in the opening round of the 2021 national tournament.
+Dakota State is seeking for their first win in the NAIA national tournament.
+The first all-time series meeting between DSU and Midland (Neb.) took place at the DSU Fieldhouse on Oct. 21, 2011. The Warriors held on to a 3-2 thriller over the Trojans (32-30, 23-25, 25-16, 23-25, 15-12).
+The Trojans are 4-5 record on the road and 9-4 record on neutral sites this season. The Warriors are 9-1 home record this season, despite their only home setback to No. 2 Concordia (Neb.) on Nov. 5.
+Dakota State had signature victories over McPherson (Kan.), who is ranked No. 16 in the final national poll, as well as No. 3 ranked Jamestown (N.D.) on a neutral site in the North Star Athletic Association semifinal round in Bellevue, Neb.
Two Trojans hit career milestone at NSAA tournament
Madison, S.D. (Nov. 18, 2024)—A pair of Dakota State (S.D.) volleyball athletes hit a career milestone during the North Star Athletic Association postseason tournament at Gordon Lozier Athletic Center on Bellevue (Neb.) University.
Madalyn Groft surpassed the 3,000 career assists in Trojans' 3-2 thrilling victory over No. 3 Jamestown (N.D.) on Nov. 15. She is currently third in the Trojan women's volleyball school record book for most career assists.
Sydney Schell became the all-time DSU women's volleyball kills leader at Dakota State during the NSAA conference tournament's championship match at No. 5 Bellevue. She surpassed the previous record holder by Carly Rozell with 1,481 career kills from 2014-17.  Schell currently have 1,487 career kills since 2021.
Groft and Schell both also became a 4-time North Star Athletic Association All-Conference, the first time since Rozell when she was the first 4-time NSAA All-Conference from 2014-17. Schell was named to the NSAA All-Conference First Team, while Groft was named to Second Team All-Conference.
(RV) DSU upsets (3) Jimmies in NSAA semifinals
Madison, S.D. (Nov. 15, 2024)—Dakota State (N.D.) held off No. 3 ranked Jamestown (N.D.) in a five-set thriller at Gordon Lozier Athletic Center, advancing to the North Star Athletic Association championship match for the third time in program history.
The Jimmies took the first set by the score of 25-15, while the Trojans rallied to even the match at 1-1 after 25-21 set two victory. DSU grabbed a 2-1 match lead after a thrilling 26-24 victory. UJ forced the fifth and deciding set after winning the fourth set at 25-22. Dakota State had the match point opportunity at 14-10, while Jamestown stormed back by saving four match points. After battling back-and-forth, the Trojans came on top by he score of 18-16 to secure a 3-2 thrilling victory for the Jimmies. Â
Four Dakota State hitters registered double digit kills, led by
Sydney Schell with 17 kills. She also had a double-double with 21 digs.Â
Hailey Wathen added 12 kills and three blocks.Â
Tristyn Maras smashed 11 kills and registered three blocks.Â
Brooklyn Grage had 10 kills and seven blocks.Â
Macey Wathen had seven kills and four blocks.
Madalyn Groft produced a double-double of 26 set assists and 15 digs.Â
Maddi Langerock added 22 set assists and eight digs.Â
Kate VanRooyan led the Trojans with 23 digs.Â
Logan Conlin added a career-high 13 digs.Â
Hannah Evans tallied 10 blocks in the match.
(RV) Trojans fall in NSAA championship match
Bellevue, Neb. (Nov. 16, 2024)—Dakota State (S.D.) made their third appearance in the North Star Athletic Association Women's Volleyball Postseason Tournament's championship match at Gordon Lozier Athletic Center. The third-seeded Trojans fell short to the host-team and No. 1 seed Bellevue (Neb.) in three straight season, closing the North Star's volleyball 11-year era. Both teams were seeking for their first NSAA conference tournament title prior to the match.
The Bruins won by the set scores of 25-15, 25-19, and 25-23.Â
Sydney Schell led the Trojans with a double-double of 11 kills and 10 digs. She hit .226 in the match.Â
Macey Wathen and
Tristyn Maras each added six kills.Â
Hailey Wathen and
Brooklyn Grage each tallied five kills.Â
Maddi Langerock posted a double-double of 15 set assists and 10 digs.Â
Madalyn Groft added 11 assists and eight digs.Â
Kate VanRooyan tallied 12 digs.
Bellevue outhit Dakota State 50-34 in the match. The Bruins hit .298 to the Trojans .145.
Dakota State in the North Star conference ranks
Madison, S.D. (Nov. 21, 2024)—According to the NAIA-PrestoStats as of Friday, Dakota State is third in the North Star Athletic Association with 1,437 kills this season. The Trojans are also third in the conference with 13.2 kills per set.
DSU leads the North Star Athletic Association in total digs with 2,091 digs. The Trojans also lead the league with 19.2 digs per set.
Kate VanRooyan leads the North Star conference with 583 digs and ranks second with 5.4 digs per set for the Trojans.Â
Brooklyn Grage is sixth in the conference with 0.8 blocks per set.
Sydney Schell ranks fifth in the North Star in total kills with 313 kills for Dakota State. She also ranks fifth in the league with 429 total digs.
Macey Wathen produces .306 hitting percentage which is eighth best hitting percentage in the North Star Athletic Association for DSU.
2024 DSU Trojan Volleyball Team Leaders
