November 8, 2024
REMINDER ON NSAA POSTSEASON POLICY: DSU family season pass, TAC member pass are not being honored at the conference postseason match. NSAA's institutions' students with ID card will be admitted FREE.
This Week's Preview
MADISON, S.D. (Nov. 8, 2024)—The Dakota State University Trojan volleyball team (16-11 overall record, 5-5 North Star Athletic Association record, receiving votes—RV—in the 2024 NAIA Women's Volleyball Coaches' Top 25 Poll) prepares for their postseason action as they open their North Star Athletic Association conference tournament Saturday at DSU Fieldhouse.
The Trojans, who is third seed in the North Star Athletic Association Postseason Tournament, hosts No. 6 seed Mayville State (N.D.) (8-18 overall record, 1-9 NSAA conference record). The first serve is set for 1 p.m. in Madison, S.D.
Dakota State wrapped up their regular-season schedule by going 1-1 record in North Dakota. The Trojans fell short on the road at Valley City State (N.D.) in four sets on Oct. 30, but owned the tiebreaker with the Vikings in the conference standings after sweeping VCSU in three straight sets at DSU Fieldhouse on Oct. 2. Dakota State earned a 3-0 sweep over Mayville State in the regular-season finale on Nov. 1 in three straight sets.
Mayville State was swept by No. 4 ranked Bellevue (Neb.) in three straight sets on Nov. 2 in both teams regular season finale at Lewy Lee Fieldhouse. The victory also gave the Bruins their share of the North Star Athletic Association regular-season title with No. 4 ranked Jamestown (N.D.), with both teams finishing the conference schedule with a 9-1 record. MSU finished in a two-way tie for fifth in the conference standings with Dickinson State (N.D.) with 1-9 league record each. Th Blue Hawks earned a tiebreaker over the Comets for the No. 5 seed.
Dakota State had completed their North Star conference season series sweep of Mayville State, sweeping the Comets in three straight sets in both meetings at DSU Fieldhouse on Oct. 5 and at Lewy Lee Fieldhouse on Nov. 1.
Up Next: The North Star Athletic Association Postseason Tournament continues next weekend at Gordon Lozier Athletic Center in Bellevue, Neb. The winner of MSU-DSU will face No. 2 seed Jamestown (N.D.) Friday at 5 p.m.
This Week's Quick Hits
+Dakota State (S.D.) is seeking to secure their home court winning streak on Saturday. The Trojans are 4-3 record this season (3-2 record in the North Star conference play with wins over Valley City State, Mayville State, and Dickinson State).
+This marks the second straight year that Dakota State faced Mayville State (N.D.) in back-to-back matches in the regular-season finale followed by the NSAA postseason tournament quarterfinals.
+ The Trojans had won four straight meetings with the Comets since Nov. 4, 2023, including winning a five-set thriller in the NSAA postseason tournament's quarterfinals on Nov. 9, 2023 in Watertown, S.D.
+Saturday's match will be the third time during the North Star Athletic Association's era that both Dakota State and Mayville State met in the postseason tournament.
+The Comets are entering the NSAA postseason tournament with a 10-match losing skid.
+ It was the first time since March 2021 that the Trojans earned the North Star Athletic Association regular-season sweep over Mayville State.
+ Dakota State had registered six consecutive seasons of home court winning record. The Trojans are seeking to extend that streak to seven Saturday as they hold a 4-3 home record at DSU Fieldhouse.
A look at 2024 NSAA postseason tournament
Madison, S.D. (Nov. 8, 2024)—The North Star Athletic Association Women's Volleyball Postseason Tournament will be in their final year, where the postseason tournament matches will be held on two straight weekends.
No. 1 seed Bellevue (Neb.) and No. 2 seed Jamestown (N.D.) received the opening round byes and are set to play in the semifinals round next weekend (Nov. 15-16) at Gordon Lozier Athletic Center in Bellevue, Neb.
No. 4 seed Valley City State (N.D.) kicks off the postseason tournament's quarterfinals round on Friday evening, hosting No. 5 seed Dickinson State (N.D.). No. 3 seed Dakota State (S.D.) hosts No. 6 seed Mayville State (N.D.) Saturday afternoon.
Jamestown plays the winner of Mayville State-Dakota State match on Friday, Nov. 15, at 5 p.m. Bellevue hosts the winner of DiSU-VCSU in the nightcap, scheduled for 7 p.m. The NSAA championship match is set for Saturday, Nov. 16, with the first serve at 2 p.m. The winner of the NSAA postseason tournament receive the automatic bid to the NAIA National Tournament Opening Round on Saturday, Nov. 23.
Vikings defeat (RV) Trojans in Valley City, N.D.
Valley City, N.D. (Oct. 30, 2024)—Valley City State (N.D.) held off Dakota State (S.D.) in four sets in the North Star Athletic Association action at Graichen Gym. The Vikings split the NSAA season series with the Trojans, however, DSU owned the tiebreaker over VCSU in numbers of sets won (4 sets to 3 sets).
Valley City State (N.D.) held to a 26-24 victory in the first set to earn a 1-0 match lead. Dakota State tied the match at 1-1 after winning the second set by the score of 25-18. VCSU won the next two sets by the scores of 25-22 and 25-17 to secure a 3-1 match victory.
Hailey Wathen led the Trojans with a season-high 14 kills.
Sydney Schell posted a double-double of 12 kills and tied her career high of 26 digs.
Macey Wathen tallied 11 kills and four blocks.
Brooklyn Grage registered seven kills.
Hannah 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 had a service ace.
Kate VanRooyan led DSU's defense with 29 digs.
Logan Conlin collected a season-high 12 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 the Trojans).
(RV) DSU sweeps Mayville State (N.D.) on road
Mayville, N.D. (Nov. 1, 2024)—(RV) Dakota State (S.D.) hit an impressive .307 hitting percentage at Lewy Lee Fieldhouse, concluding their final North Star Athletic Association women's volleyball regular-season finale with a 3-0 sweep over Mayville State (N.D.). The Trojans also completed their season series sweep of the Comets.
DSU produced double digits kills in all three sets, outhitting MSU 52-42 in the match. The Trojans opened with a 25-18 set one victory for a 1-0 match lead. DSU went on to win the next two sets by the scores of 25-21 and 25-19.
Sydney Schell posted a double-double of 18 kills and 18 digs for Dakota State. She hit .457 in the match.
Macey Wathen added a career-high 14 kills and hit .545.
Hailey Wathen and
Brooklyn Grage each recorded seven kills.
Madalyn Groft had a double-double of 26 set assists and 11 digs.
Maddi Langerock had 21 set assists and eight digs. Katie VanRooyan had a match-high 20 digs for the Trojans.
Dakota State outhit Mayville State 52-42 in the match. The Trojans collected 75 digs compared to the Comets 62 digs. Both teams registered six blocks.
Dakota State's junior varsity successful season
Mayville, N.D. (Nov. 1, 2024)—The Dakota State University Trojan women's junior varsity volleyball team completed a successful season after going 3-0 record during their regular-season finale.
Dakota State closed their home schedule in a triangular at DSU Fieldhouse, with an exhibition victory over Minnesota West CC in three sets on Oct. 28. The Trojans followed up with a 2-0 sweep over in-state rival Mount Marty (S.D.) in the night cap. Dakota State finished their home schedule with a perfect 6-0 record at DSU Fieldhouse, defeating Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.), Morningside (Iowa), Sisseton Wahpeton (S.D.), Mayville State (N.D.), Jamestown (N.D.), and Mount Marty.
DSU traveled to Mayville State on their regular-season finale, securing a 2-1 road victory over the Comets.
Dakota State produced an astounding 17-1 overall record for the season, despite falling short to rival Dakota Wesleyan on the road on Sept. 13 in three sets. DSU finished their road record with a 6-1 record, as well as finishing undefeated 5-0 record on neutral sites in 2024.
2024 DSU Trojan Volleyball Team Leaders
