September 26, 2024
This Week's Preview
MADISON, S.D. (Sept. 26, 2024)—The Dakota State University Trojan volleyball team (10-6 overall record, 0-1 North Star Athletic Association record, receiving votes—RV—in the 2024 NAIA Women's Volleyball Coaches' Top 25 Poll) wraps up their month-long road trip away from DSU Fieldhouse with a pair of matches this weekend. The Trojans continue their North Star Athletic Association action at Dickinson State (N.D.) (4-
10 overall record, 0-2 NSAA conference record) Friday evening. The match is being held at Scott Gymnasium (291 Campus Drive) in Dickinson, N.D.
DSU concludes their road trip Saturday afternoon, traveling to No. 3 ranked Jamestown (N.D.) (10-0 overall record, 2-0 NSAA conference record). The first serve is set for 3 p.m. at Newman Arena (100
4 7th Street NE, 1104 N. University Drive) in Jamestown, N.D.
DSU hosts Valley City State (N.D.) (10-5, 2-1 NSAA, RV in NAIA) on Wednesday at 7 p.m.. The Trojans wrap up their first half of the conference schedule next Saturday (Oct. 5) in the Dig Pink match with Mayville State (N.D.) (7-6, 1-2 NSAA conference record, with the junior varsity at 10 a.m. and varsity at 12 p.m. at DSU Fieldhouse.
Dakota State went 2-1 record in their previous three matches. The Trojans fell short to No. 8 ranked Bellevue (Neb.) in five-set thriller in Bellevue on Sept. 20. DSU earned a pair of 3-0 non-conference sweep, defeating Kansas Wesleyan in Bellevue on Sept. 21, and on the road at Mount Marty (S.D.) on Sept. 24.
Dickinson State dropped a pair of 3-0 matches on the road at VCSU and MSU last week in the NSAA conference opener on Sept. 18 and 19, respectively. Jamestown also went 3-0 at VCSU and MSU in their conference season opener to extend their winning streak to 10 matches. The Vikings held off the Comets in a thrilling five-set match on Sept. 25 in Valley City, N.D.
Up Next: Dakota State plays in the Bruin Classic on Oct. 12, facing Columbia (Mo.) and Grand View (Iowa). The Trojans then return home on Thursday, Oct. 17 for the North Star contest versus Bellevue (Neb.) at DSU Fieldhouse.
This Week's Quick Hits
+Dakota State (S.D.) is 2-2 record this season, looking for their first North Star conference road victory despite a 3-2 setback at No. 8 ranked Bellevue (Neb.) on Sept. 20.
+The Trojans had won the previous three meetings with Dickinson State (N.D.), and their 19th win in the last 24 matches in the series meeting.
+Dakota State is meeting Jamestown (N.D.) in the North Star Athletic Association action for the first time since Oct. 28, 2017. The 2017-18 season was the last year when UJ played in the NSAA conference.
+The Trojans took down the 2023 NAIA national champion Jamestown in the previous meeting on Sept. 2, 2023 in the Labor Day Classic at United Sports Academy. DSU won by the score of 3-1, ending their 27-match losing skid in the series meeting with UJ.
+Valley City State (N.D.) swept the season series with the Trojans last season. DSU is seeking for their first win over the Vikings since Oct. 22, 2022, when the Trojans earned a 3-1 victory at DSU Fieldhouse.
+DSU went 2-1 record with Mayville State (N.D.) last season, winning the previous four home matches.
+The Trojan junior varsity team is 11-1 record, extending their winning streak to five matches. DSU is scheduled to play in the Iowa Lakes CC triangular Saturday and returns home on Oct. 5 versus MSU.
Trojans in the volleyball school record book
Madison, S.D. (Sept. 26, 2024)—
Hannah Evans established a tie in the single-match school record in Dakota State's (S.D.) 3-2 road setback at No. 8 ranked Bellevue (Neb.) on Sept. 20. She tallied a career-high 11 blocks in the match, tying with Hannah Viet for most blocks in a single match (versus Presentation, S.D., on Sept. 21, 2022).
Prior to the matches this weekend,
Sydney Schell accumulated 1,351 kills which is fifth most all-time career kills at DSU. Carly Rozell holds the all-time school record of 1,481 kills from 2014-17. Amanda Vos holds the fourth most kills with 1,390 kills from 2000-04.
Madalyn Groft surpassed Rachel Johnson (2,515 set assists) for the fourth most set assists at Dakota State. Groft amassed 2,724 digs during her career. Katalin Varga holds the third all-time set assists with 2,904 from 1994-98. Stacey Westby holds the all-time school record of 3,804 assists from 2011-15.
Schell and Groft combined for a total of 2,803 digs during their career at Dakota State. Schell collected 1,465 digs, while Groft earned 1,338 digs.
(RV) DSU drops NSAA opener at (8) BU in five sets
Bellevue, Neb. (Sept. 20, 2024)—NAIA's nationally-ranked No. 8 Bellevue (Neb.) held off (RV) Dakota State (S.D.) in a thrilling five-set match in their North Star Athletic Association volleyball opener at Gordon Lozier Athletic Center. DSU fell short, despite a season-high 16 blocks in the match.
The Trojans grabbed a 1-0 match lead after winning the first set at 25-20. The Bruins notched the second set at 25-18 and third set at 25-22 to grab a 2-1 lead. Despite falling 9-2 in the fourth set, DSU roared back to win 25-22 to force the fifth and deciding set. BU held off the Trojans by the score of 15-11 in the fifth set to secure the victory.
Brooklyn Grage smashed a season-high 16 kills for DSU. She hit .300 in the match and added six blocks.
Sydney Schell posted a double-double of 11 kills and 20 digs. She had seven blocks.
Madalyn Groft nearly registered a triple-double with season-highs of 30 set assists, 19 digs, and nine kills.
Macey Wathen had 11 kills and three blocks.
Maddi Langerock had a double-double of 21 assists and 15 digs.
Kate VanRooyan recorded 17 digs.
Hannah Evans had a career-high 11 blocks, tying the DSU school single-match record with Hannah Viet.
Bellevue outhit Dakota State 71-59 in the match. The Bruins hit .192 compared to the Trojans .178. DSU had 16 blocks to BU five blocks. Bellevue collected 115 digs to Dakota State 90 digs.
(RV) Trojans breeze over Kansas Wesleyan
Bellevue, Neb. (Sept. 21, 2024)—Dakota State (S.D.) hit a season-high .349 and committed just seven attack errors in rolling to a 3-0 non-conference victory over Kansas Wesleyan at Gordon Lozier Athletic Center. The set scores were 25-18, 25-17, and 25-21. DSU is 2-0 record against members of the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference this season (swept current No. 23 ranked McPherson, Kan., 3-0 earlier this season in North Sioux City, S.D.).
Sydney Schell paced Dakota State with a double-double of 13 kills and 15 digs. She hit .429 in the match.
Hailey Wathen added 11 kills and hit .440.
Tristyn Maras had seven kills and recorded a hitting percentage of .467.
Madalyn Groft contributed 19 set assists and six digs.
Maddi Langerock added 18 set assists and four digs.
Kate VanRooyan collected 10 digs for DSU.
Macey Wathen and
Hannah Evans each had four blocks.
The Trojans smashed 44 kills in the match. Kansas Wesleyan was limited to .188 hitting percentage with 41 kills and 20 errors in 112 swings. DSU had nine service aces to KWU two service aces.
(RV) Trojans continue dominance with Lancers
Yankton, S.D. (Sept. 24, 2024)—Dakota State (S.D.) held in-state rival Mount Marty (S.D.) to .008 hitting percentage at Cimpl Arena, rolling to a 3-0 non-conference sweep. It was DSU's third win in the last four matches. The Trojans won by the set scores of 25-17, 25-15, and 25-21.
Dakota State won their 13th straight meeting with Mount Marty and their 31st win in the last 39 meetings. It was the sixth time in the last seven meetings that DSU swept MMU in three straight sets.
Brooklyn Grage paced the Trojans with 11 kills and four blocks. She registered a hitting percentage of .450.
Macey Wathen added nine kills and hit .400.
Sydney Schell had five kills and eight digs.
Madalyn Groft produced 16 set assists and seven digs.
Maddi Langerock added 13 assists and four digs.
Kate VanRooyan tallied 19 digs.
Dakota State outhit Mount Marty 37-30. The Trojans produced a hitting percentage of .245 (12 errors in 102 swings) compared to the Lancers with 29 attack errors in 129 attempts.
2024 DSU Trojan Volleyball Team Leaders
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