August 16, 2024

Photo credit by SportsMediaDB

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – Dakota State (S.D.) made their 2024 volleyball debut Friday afternoon, defeating Campbellsville (Ky.) in a thrilling five-set marathon match that lasted more than two-and-half hours at Student Life Center.  Keiser (Fla.) is the host for the Vipers Sports Academy Classic, which began the tournament play Thursday and runs through Saturday.

Dakota State, receiving votes in the NAIA Women's Volleyball Coaches' Preseason Top 25 national poll, opened with a 1-0 overall record.  Campbellsville, a member of the Mid-South Conference, fell to 1-3 record in the tournament.  It was the first-ever series meeting for both teams.

The Trojans continue their tournament play against No. 19 ranked St. Thomas (Fla.) at 6 p.m. (Eastern Time)/5 p.m. (Central Time).

(RV) Dakota State (S.D.) 3, Campbellsville (Ky.) 2 – FINAL (25-23, 25-23, 23-25, 20-25, 15-12)

DSU's season opening volleyball match saw a roller coaster by both teams, with numerous scoring runs in each set. 

At 5-4 in the opening set, the Tigers went on a 5-0 scoring run for a 10-4 lead, capped by a block from Brooke Hage and Molly Shannon.  Sydney Schell and Brooklyn Grage capped DSU's 8-3 scoring run to trim Campbellsville's lead to 13-12.

Trailing 21-18, the Trojans scored four straight points to overtake a 22-21 lead after CU's attack error.  Grage closed the opening set after smashing a kill, giving DSU a 1-0 match lead after a 25-23 victory.

DSU outhit CU 13-11 in the first set.  The Trojans hit .100 compared to the Tigers .019 hitting percentage (committed 10 attack errors in 52 swings).

Dakota State roared to a 5-0 second set lead, thanks to a kill from Hailey Wathen, back-to-back kills from Grage, a block from Macey Wathen, and a service ace from H. Wathen.

With DSU leading 15-10, Campbellsville went on an 8-2 scoring tear to regain their lead after Trojans' attack error.  Dakota State was forced to call a timeout, trailing at 18-17.

The Trojans stormed to close the second set, scoring four straight points to erase their 23-21 deficit.  Gwendolyn Vongkasemsiri and Tristyn Mara closed the second set with a block, extending DSU's match lead to 2-0 after another 25-23 victory.

Dakota State fueled a 7-1 opening lead in the third set after a service ace by M. Wathen.  Campbellsville answered with an 11-4 scoring run, earning their first lead in the third set at 12-11 with a kill from Zofia Serafinowska.

Both teams went back-and-forth before the Tigers pulled out at the end of the third set.  The Trojans saved two set points by the Tigers, trimming their lead to 24-23.  CU extended the match into the fourth set as Cierra Merrick smashed a kill for a 25-23 victory, trimming DSU's lead to 2-1.

Dakota State and Campbellsville traded scoring runs in the early fourth set, starting with a 4-1 run by the Tigers.  The Trojans then went on a 9-4 scoring run to overtake the lead at 10-8, including scoring four straight points.

At 12-9 DSU, Campbellsville scored six straight points to regain their lead at 15-12.  The Trojans rallied back to knot at 15-15 after Madalyn Groft's kill.

Knotted at 16-16, the Tigers went on a 4-0 scoring run to stretch their lead to 20-16 and never looked back.  CU tied the match at 2-2 after a 25-20 set four victory to force the fifth and deciding set.

Campbellsville hit .279 in the fourth set (16 kills with four errors in 43 swings) compared to Dakota State .205 hitting percentage (15 kills with six errors in 44 attempts).

The Trojans erupted for four straight points in the deciding set, (4-0 DSU lead) thanks to a pair of kills from H. Wathen and a kill apiece from Grage and Groft. 

CU stormed back with a 6-2 scoring run to tie the fifth set at 6-6.  After trading leads with the Tigers leading 11-9, the Trojans scored four straight points to overtake a 13-11 lead after Kate VanRooyan's service ace. 

The Tigers trimmed the Trojans' lead to 13-12.  M. Wathen smashed a kill to set up a match point at 14-12 and secured the victory at 15-12 as the Tigers committed an attack error.

Dakota State outhit Campbellsville 11-5 in the deciding set.  The Trojans hit .214 (5 errors in 28 attempts) and held the Tigers to .087 hitting efficiency (3 errors in 23 swings).

Four DSU players posted in double-doubles, sparked by Schell with 17 kills and 17 digs.  Groft added 27 set assists and 11 digs.  Maddi Langerock produced 18 set assists and collected 18 digs.  H. Wathen tallied 12 kills and 12 digs.

Vongkasemsiri, Grage, and Maras each added nine kills for the Trojans.  M. Wathen smashed seven kills and recorded two service aces. 

VanRooyan led DSU's defense with 31 digs.  Reagan VanRooyan added seven digs.  Vongkasemsiri tallied seven blocks.  Maras added five blocks. 

Merrick and Emily Aabye each had 16 kills for the Tigers.  Merrick posted a double-double with 20 digs.  Molly Shannon added 14 kills.  Jana Krstic contributed a double-double of 48 set assists and 13 digs.  Marisa Gallardo paced the defense with 33 digs.  Brooke Hager had four blocks.

Dakota State outhit Campbellsville 68-59 in the match.  The Trojans registered .178 hitting percentage (31 errors in 208 swings) compared to the Tigers .156 hitting percentage (28 attack errors in 199 attempts).

DSU recorded 13 blocks in the match to CU five blocks.  Both teams reached over 100 digs in the match, with the Trojans 104 digs to the Tigers 101 digs.