September 24, 2024

YANKTON, S.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) held in-state rival Mount Marty (S.D.) to .008 hitting percentage Tuesday evening at Cimpl Arena, rolling to a 3-0 non-conference volleyball sweep.  It was the Trojans third victory in the last four matches.  DSU won by the set scores of 25-17, 25-15, and 25-21.

Dakota State, receiving votes in the latest NAIA Women's Volleyball Coaches' Top 25 national poll, raised their overall record to 10-6.  It was the 11^th straight season that the Trojans had reached double-digits victories.  Mount Marty, a member of the Great Plains Athletic Conference, fell to 9-6 overall record.

DSU won their 13^th straight meeting in the series meeting with MMU.  The Trojans also earned their 31^st victory in the last 39 meetings with the Lancers.

Dakota State's junior varsity squad earned a 2-0 sweep over Mount Marty, raising their overall record to 11-1 this season.  The Trojans head to Estherville (Iowa) on Saturday for the Iowa Lakes CC triangular with Buena Vista (Iowa). 

Dakota State returns to their North Star conference action, closing their month of September away from DSU Fieldhouse this weekend.  The Trojans visit Dickinson State (N.D.) Friday evening at Scott Gymnasium. The first serve is set for 7 p.m. (Central Time)/6 p.m. (Mountain Time) in Dickinson, N.D.

DSU then heads to No. 3 ranked Jamestown (N.D.) Saturday afternoon for another NSAA contest at Newman Arena.  The match is set for 3 p.m. in Jamestown, N.D.

(RV) Dakota State (S.D.) 3, Mount Marty (S.D.) 0 – FINAL (25-17, 25-15, 25-21)

Trailing 3-2 to start the first set, Dakota State went on to score five straight points to grab a 7-3 lead.  The Lancers then trimmed their deficit to 7-6 after Mia Furst's kill.

The Trojans roared with an 8-0 outburst, capped by back-to-back kills from Macey Wathen to balloon their lead to 15-6.  DSU never trailed for the rest of the first set, securing a 25-17 victory after Wathen's kill.

Both teams registered eight kills in the opening set.  Mount Marty committed 12 attack errors in 47 swings for a minus hitting percentage .085.  DSU was held to .086 hitting percentage (5 errors in 35 attempts).

Dakota State and Mount Marty went through a see-saw battle in the first 19 rallies of the second set.  Down 10-9, the Trojans ignited their scoring run by erupting their 16-5 closing run to their match lead to 2-0.  Tristyn Maras smashed a kill to give DSU a 25-15 victory.

DSU hit an astounding .464 in the second set after smashing 14 kills and committed just one attack error in 28 attempts.  MMU was held to a negative .027 hitting percentage (9 kills with 10 errors in 37 attempts).

Aubrey Herblolsheimer smashed a kill to give Mount Marty a 14-10 lead in the third set after going back-and-forth with Dakota State.  The Trojans exploded for 11 consecutive points to earn a 21-10 lead after Hailey Wathen's kill.

The Lancers went on an 11-3 scoring run to cut the Trojans' lead to 24-13 in set three.  Sydney Schell smashed a kill as the Trojans secured the victory at 25-21, earning a 3-0 sweep over the Lancers.  It was the sixth time in the last seven meetings that DSU earned a 3-0 sweep over MMU.

Dakota State hit .231 in the third set (15 kills with six errors in 39 attempts) compared to Mount Marty .133 hitting percentage (13 kills with 7 errors in 45 swings).

Brooklyn Grage paced the Trojans with 11 kills and four blocks.  She hit .450 in the match.  M. Wathen added nine kills and hit .400.  She had two blocks.  Schell had five kills and eight digs.  Maras recorded four kills and hit .444.

Madalyn Groft contributed 16 set assists and seven digs for DSU.  Maddi Langerock added 13 assists and four digs.  Kate VanRooyan tallied 19 digs.  Groft, VanRooyan, and Maras each had a service ace.

Julia Weber led the Lancers with a double-double of 10 kills and 13 digs.  Caitlin Guenther added five kills.  Tevan Erickson had 20 set assists and five digs.  Zoie Bertsch tallied 14 digs.  Caitlin Guenther had three blocks.

Dakota State outhit Mount Marty 37-30 in the match.  The Trojans hit .245 (12 errors in 102 swings) while the Lancers committed 29 attack errors in 129 attempts.