August 17, 2024

Photo credit by SportsMediaDB

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – Dakota State (S.D.) fell short for an upset bid to the NAIA nationally ranked team Saturday afternoon on the second day of the Keiser (Fla.) Sports Academy Sports Classic at Student Life Center.  The Spartans erased their 2-1 deficit into a 3-2 victory over the Trojans by the set scores of 24-26, 25-22, 16-25, 25-18, and 15-9.

It was the second time in the tournament that DSU went to five-set match (defeated Campbellsville, Ky., Friday).

Dakota State, receiving votes in the NAIA Women's Volleyball Coaches' 25 Preseason Poll, fell to 1-2 overall record.  Missouri Baptist, No. 11 ranked in the preseason poll, snapped their losing streak to improve their overall record to 1-4.

DSU closes out the tournament with a match with Taylor (Ind.) in the battle of the Trojans at 6 p.m. (Eastern Time)/5 p.m. (Central Time).

#11 Missouri Baptist 3, (RV) Dakota State (S.D.) 2 – FINAL (24-26, 25-22, 16-25, 25-18, 15-12)

Dakota State kicked off the opening set with a 5-2 lead, capped by Brooklyn Grage's kill.  The Trojans widen their lead to 11-5 after scoring five straight points, sparked by Sydney Schell's four kills during the scoring run.

With DSU leading 13-7, Missouri Baptist went on a 5-0 scoring run to trim Dakota State's lead to 13-12.  Then, the Trojans went on a 6-3 run to make it 19-15 after Tristyn Maras' kill.

The Spartans roared with a 9-3 outburst, setting up a set point chance for a 1-0 match lead at 24-22.  Dakota State saved two set point chances by MBU and ended the first set with a 4-0 scoring run to secure a 26-24 victory.

Dakota State took a 1-0 match lead, outhitting Missouri Baptist 20-14.  The Trojans hit .255 (7 errors in 51 swings) compared to the Spartans' .213 hitting percentage (4 errors in 47 attempts).

MBU raced to an 8-1 lead in the second set and held off DSU's late comeback.  Trailing 15-5, The Trojans used an 8-2 spurt to cut the Spartans' lead to 17-13 after Gwendolyn Vongkasemsiri and Brooklyn Grage's block (DSU trailed 17-13).

Missouri Baptist established a set point at 24-17 in the second set, Dakota State went on a 5-0 scoring run.  The Spartans were forced to call a timeout, leading 24-22.  MBU snapped DSU's scoring run after the timeout as Kassie Lee smashed a kill for a 25-22 victory an evened the match at 1-1.

Dakota State erupted for eight straight points to start the third set, leading 8-0 after Schell's kill.  The Trojans never looked back, earning a 2-1 match after winning 25-16.  DSU hit .200 in the third set (10 kills with 4 errors in 30 swings) and limited MBU to .032 hitting percentage (8 will with 7 errors in 31 attempts0.

The Trojans and the Spartans went through a see-saw battle in the fourth set through the first 30 rallies, with the lead no greater than three points by both teams.  After a kill by Schell to give DSU a 16-14 advantage, Missouri Baptist stormed with a 11-2 outburst to force the fifth and deciding set after a 25-18 victory.

MBU outhit DSU 18-9 in the fourth set.  The Spartans hit .268 (7 errors in 41 swings) and limited the Trojans to .125 hitting percentage (5 errors in 32 attempts).

Missouri Baptist stretched their lead to 8-3 after holding a slim 4-3 lead in the fifth set.  The Trojans could get no closer than three points at 11-8 and 12-9 after a pair of errors by MBU.

The Spartans closed the match by scoring the final three points of the fifth set, securing the match victory after a 15-9 win.

MBU outhit DSU 10-5 in the final set.  The Spartans hit .280 (3 errors in 25 swings) compared to the Trojans .200 hitting efficiency (1 error in 20 attempts).

Schell hit a season-high 23 kills and registered a hitting percentage of .375 for Dakota State.  She produced a double-double of 16 digs.  Grage added 11 kills and three blocks.  Macey Wathen and Maras each added five kills.

Madalyn Groft had a double-double of 23 set assists and 12 digs for the Trojans.  Maddi Langerock added 19 assists and seven digs. 

Kate VanRooyan paced DSU's defense with 22 digs.  Vongkasemsiri tallied a season-high eight blocks.  Reagan VanRooyan had eight digs and two service aces. 

Elina Arsov led the Spartans with a double-double of 21 kills and 13 digs.  Tayler Neal added 16 kills.  F. Andrade Perini recorded 11 kills.  Kassie Lee had eight kills.

Maiana Coelho led MBU with a match-high 44 set assists and posted a double-double with 11 digs.  Julia Pereira collected 35 digs.  Luiza Arsufi had 13 digs.

Missouri Baptist hit .201 overall in the match, smashing 66 kills with 27 errors in 194 swings.  Dakota State recorded a hitting percentage of .194 with 56 kills and 21 errors in 180 attempts.

The Trojans registered nine blocks in the match compared to the Spartans six blocks.  MBU had nine service aces to DSU four service aces.