September 5, 2024
This Week's Preview
MADISON, S.D. (Sept. 4, 2024)—The Dakota State University Trojan volleyball team (6-4 overall record, receiving votes—RV—in the 2024 NAIA Women's Volleyball Coaches' Top 25 Poll) wraps up their preseason tournament schedule with a pair matches this weekend. The Trojans return to R.W. Beggs Gymnasium (900 Viterbo Drive) in La Crosse, Wis., for the Viterbo (Wis.) tournament.
Dakota State faces a pair of Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) in the tournament, starting Friday at 3 p.m. versus Judson (Ill.) (3-1 overall record). The Trojans then face former North Star Athletic Association foe Viterbo (Wis.) (5-6 overall record, No. 17 in the NAIA national poll) Saturday morning at 10 a.m. Two other NSAA teams are also in the Viterbo tournament (No. 4 Jamestown and Valley City State).
Dakota State stays on the road Tuesday evening as they travel to rival Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) (5-5 overall record) for their second meeting of the season. The junior varsity match is set for 5 p.m., followed by the varsity match at 7 p.m. The matches will be held at the Christen Athletic Center on the campus of DWU (1200 University Drive) in Mitchell, S.D.
DSU went 4-2 record since Aug. 24, including victories over (RV) Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) on Aug. 24 and 3-1 record in the Siouxland Invitational on Aug. 30-31. The Trojans defeated York (Neb.), Haskell (Kan.), and McPherson (Kan.), who is currently ranked No. 25, in the Labor Day tournament in North Sioux City, S.D.
Up Next: Dakota State opens their North Star Athletic Association schedule on Friday, Sept. 20, as they visit the nationally-ranked No. 8 Bellevue (Neb.). The match will be held at Gordon Lozier Center in Bellevue (Neb.). The Trojans will stay in the same gym on Saturday afternoon versus Kansas Wesleyan for a non-conference contest on Saturday, Sept. 21. DSU stays on the road at Mount Marty (S.D.) on Sept. 24.
This Week's Quick Hits
+Dakota State (S.D.) will face Judson (Ill.) for the first time in series meeting history on Friday.
+Viterbo (Wis.) and DSU were former members of the North Star Athletic Association. The Trojans are seeking for their first win on Viterbo's floor in series meeting history.
+The Trojans will meet rival Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) for the second meeting this season on Tuesday. DSU won the first meeting at DSU Fieldhouse on Aug. 24 by set scores of 25-19, 25-20, 24-26, and 25-15.
+Dakota State is looking for their first win on DWU's floor since Oct. 5, 2021, where the Trojans won in four sets. The Tigers were ranked No. 13 in that match.
+This weekend will be the third preseason tournament this season for Dakota State, going 3-1 record in the preseason tournament last weekend in North Sioux City, S.D.
+DSU is 5-3 record on neutral sties this season and will play their first road match on Tuesday evening.
+The Trojan junior varsity volleyball squad remained undefeated this season after sweeping Sisseton Wahpeton (S.D.) in three straight sets at DSU Fieldhouse on Sept. 4. DSU raised their overall record to 6-0 before their next match at DWU on Tuesday. The Trojans also play in the Jamestown (N.D.) tournament next Saturday with four matches scheduled.
K. VanRooyan earns second NSAA Defender of the Week
Madison, S.D. (Aug. 26, 2024)—Dakota State's (S.D.) sophomore defensive specialist
Kate VanRooyan was selected by the North Star Athletic Association as the Defender-of-the-Week award for the second consecutive week.
VanRooyan led the Trojans' defense with 31 digs in their 3-1 home opener victory over rival Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) on Aug. 24 at DSU Fieldhouse. She averaged 7.8 digs per set.
VanRooyan registered a reception rate of 92.9 percent, registering 14 receptions and committed just one reception error. She contributed six set assists, a service ace, and a kill in the match against the Tigers.
She led Dakota State's defense with 202 digs this season prior to this weekend's matches in La Crosse, Wis. She averaged 5.3 digs per set (38 total sets).
Dakota State racked up a total of 709 digs through 10 matches this season. The Trojans produced an average of 18.7 digs per set, which is 14th best digs average in the NAIA as of Thursday.
DSU goes 1-1 in season opening home stand
Madison, S.D. (Aug. 24 & 28, 2024)—Dakota State (S.D.) earned a split against members of the Great Plains Athletic Conference in their season home opener at DSU Fieldhouse.
The Trojans defeated rival Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) on Aug. 24, earning their first home victory over the Tigers since Sept. 26, 2018, at DSU Fieldhouse. DSU won by the set scores of 25-19, 25-20, 24-26, and 25-15.
Dakota State was sparked by three different hitters with double-digits kills, paced by
Sydney Schell with 15 kills.
Macey Wathen added 11 kills and
Sophie Tuttle with 10 kills.
Madalyn Groft had a double-double of 22 set assists and 12 digs.
Maddi Langerock added a double-double of 24 assists and 11 digs.
The Trojans fell short to (RV) Morningside (Iowa) in four sets on Aug. 28. The Mustangs won by the set scores of 25-19, 20-25, 25-19, and 25-16. It was the first home setback for DSU this season.
Tuttle led Dakota State's offense with a season-high 14 kills. Schell added nine kills. Langerock had a double-double of 22 set assists and 12 digs. Groft recorded a double-double of 17 assists and 16 digs.
Kate VanRooyan led the Trojans' defense with a season-high 32 digs. Schell had 14 digs.
Gwendolyn Vongkasemsiri had seven kills and five blocks.
The Mustangs outhit the Trojans 57-50 in the match.
Dakota State finishes 3-1 in Siouxland tournament
North Sioux City, S.D. (Aug. 30-31, 2024)—Dakota State (S.D.) wrapped up the month of August by going 3-1 record in the Siouxland Invitational at the United Sports Academy.
The Trojans swept past York (Neb.) in three straight sets to open the tournament on Aug. 30 by the set scores of 25-15, 25-20, and 25-9. DSU fell short to (RV) Benedictine (Kan.) in the second match in five sets (19-25, 27-25, 25-20, 14-25, and 15-13).
Dakota State closed the tournament with a pair of 3-0 sweep over Haskell (Kan.) and (RV) McPherson (Kan.) on Aug. 31. The Trojans won by the set scores of 25-7, 25-20, and 25-15 over Haskell. DSU followed up with 25-18, 25-21, and 25-16 victories over McPherson in the tournament's finale.
Sydney Schell racked up 38 kills in the tournament and hit .238 for the Trojans.
Macey Wathen had 31 kills.
Brooklyn Grage added 29 kills and
Tristyn Maras with 18 kills.
Gwendolyn Vongkasemsiri paced Dakota State with 20 blocks, averaging 1.7 blocks per set in the tournament.
Kate VanRooyan led the defense with 59 digs (4.2 digs per set).
DSU gains more votes to NAIA national poll
Madison, S.D. (Sept. 4, 2024)—Dakota State (S.D.) is one of the four North Star Athletic Association (NSAA) teams to be listed in the first edition of the NAIA Women's Volleyball Coaches' Top 25 national poll, announced by the national office Wednesday morning..
Jamestown (N.D.) ranks No. 4 in the national poll, followed by Bellevue (Neb.) with a No. 8 ranking. Both Valley City State (N.D.) and Dakota State received votes recognition (RV) to the national poll.
The Trojans tallied 19 points in the national poll, ten more points from the previous national poll last month in the NAIA Women's Volleyball Coaches' Preseason Poll.
Dakota State defeated Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.), who received votes recognition in the preseason poll. The Trojans also earned victory over previously (RV) McPherson (Kan.), where they are ranked No. 25 in the current national Top 25 poll.
Northwestern (Iowa) moved to the top spot in the NAIA Top 25 national poll with an overall record of 10-0.
2024 DSU Trojan Volleyball Team Leaders
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