September 28, 2024

JAMESTOWN (N.D.) – NAIA's nationally-ranked Jamestown (N.D.) outhit Dakota State (S.D.) 52-35 in the North Star Athletic Association women's volleyball match Saturday afternoon at Newman Arena, holding on to a 3-0 victory.  The NSAA's conference leader Jimmies won by the set scores of 25-19, 25-22, and 25-23, playing in their first NSAA conference match since the 2017-18 season with the Trojans.

Dakota State's three-match winning streak came to an end, falling to 11-7 overall record and 1-2 NSAA conference record.  The Trojans received votes (RV) recognition in the latest NAIA Women's Volleyball Coaches' Top 25 national poll.  Jamestown, ranked No. 3 in the national poll, remained undefeated this season with an overall record of 12-0 and 4-0 NSAA conference record. 

Dakota State returns home Wednesday evening for the first time since Aug. 28.  The Trojans continue their North Star conference play versus Valley City State (N.D.) at DSU Fieldhouse at 7 p.m.

(3) Jamestown (N.D.) 3, (RV) Dakota State (S.D.) 0 – FINAL (25-19, 25-22, 25-23)

Dakota State raced to a 4-0 opening lead, fueled by a kill and block from Gwendolyn Vongkasemsiri.  Hailey Wathen also had a block and capped the scoring run with a kill from Brooklyn Grage.

The Jimmies then went on a 7-2 scoring run to overtake the lead at 7-6 after Aleah Zieske's kill.

Leading 15-13, Jamestown scored four straight points to widen their lead to 19-13 capped by Zieske's kill.  The Jimmies secured the first set at 25-19 and earned a 1-0 match lead.

Jamestown registered a hitting percentage of .244 (17 kills with six errors in 45 swings) compared to Dakota State .146 hitting efficiency (11 kills with five errors in 41 attempts).

Dakota State used another fast start, racing to a 5-1 lead after UJ's attack error.  Sydney Schell smashed a kill as the Trojans' lead grew to 10-5. 

The Jimmies went on a 7-1 outburst to regain their lead at 12-11 after an attack error by the Trojans in the second set.

Both teams battled back and forth on the next few rallies before the Trojans made a scoring run.  Trailing 17-15, Grage opened DSU's 4-0 scoring run with a kill and earned a 19-17 lead.

With DSU leading 21-20, Jamestown went on to score four straight points to grab a 24-21 lead after Lexi Olson's kill. 

Vongkasemsiri smashed a kill to save a set point as DSU trailed 24-22.  Olson closed the second set with a kill to give Jamestown a 25-22 victory and extended their match lead to 2-0.

The Jimmies recorded 16 kills with eight errors in 52 swings for a hitting percentage of .154 in the second set.  The Trojans were held to .100 hitting percentage (13 kills with eight errors in 50 attempts).

DSU and UJ battled back-and-forth in the first 16 rallies of the third set, with the lead no greater than one point by both teams.  Knotted at 8-8, the Jimmies went on a 3-0 scoring run to open an 11-8 lead.

After falling behind 16-12, Dakota State roared back with a 6-0 outburst.  Schell ignited DSU's coring run with three kills, added by a service ace from Madalyn Groft and a kill by Vongkasemsiri for an 18-16 lead.

UJ answered with a 4-1 scoring run to regain their lead at 21-19.  Both teams traded leads as the Trojans answered with a 3-0 scoring run for a 22-21 lead.

The Trojans led 23-22 after the Jimmies' service error.  Zieske highlighted UJ's 3-0 closing run with a pair of kills to secure a 25-23 victory and earned the match victory in three straight sets.

Jamestown outhit Dakota State 19-11 in the third set.  The Jimmies hit .229 (8 errors in 48 attempts) compared to the Trojans .167 hitting percentage (5 errors in 36 swings).

Schell led Dakota State with 11 kills and nine digs.  Grage tallied nine kills.  Vongkasemsiri added seven kills and two blocks.  She hit .333 in the match.  Wathen had six kills and five digs.

Groft recorded a double-double of 20 set assists and 10 digs for DSU.  Maddi Langerock added seven assists and seven digs.  Kate VanRooyan led the Trojans' defense with 15 digs. 

Zieske led the Jimmies with 15 kills.  Olson added eight kills and six blocks.  Karlie Anderson and Charlee King each registered seven kills.  Gracie Adamson and Charlotte Lempka each had six kills. 

Lili Bertsch posted a double-double of 21 set assists and 14 digs for UJ.  Tenley Buddenhagen added 20 assists and six digs.  Ellie Holen paced Jamestown's defense with 18 digs. 

Jamestown recorded a hitting percentage of .207 in the match (52 kills with 22 attack errors in 145 swings).  Dakota State had a hitting efficiency of .167 (35 kills with 18 attack errors in 127 attempts).

The Jimmies registered eight blocks compared to the Trojans three blocks.