September 6, 2024

La CROSSE, Wis. – Dakota State (S.D.) used a balanced offense attack Friday afternoon, kicking off the Viterbo (Wis.) Fall Invitational with a 3-0 sweep over Judson (Ill.) at R.W. Beggs Gymnasium.  The Trojans won by the set scores of 25-19, 27-25, and 25-11, earning their third consecutive 3-0 victories.

Dakota State, receiving votes (RV) in the first edition of the NAIA Women's Volleyball Coaches' Top 25 national poll, raised their overall record to 7-4.  Judson, a member of Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC), fell to 3-4 after losing to No. 17 ranked Viterbo (Wis.) 3-0 Thursday evening and No. 4 ranked Jamestown (N.D.) 3-1 earlier Friday.

DSU earned their fourth win in the last five matches.

The Trojans wrap up their preseason tournament schedule Saturday morning, facing former member of the North Star Athletic Association member and host-school Viterbo.  The first serve is set for 10 a.m.

(RV) Dakota State (S.D.) 3, Judson (Ill.) 0 – FINAL (25-19, 27-25, 25-11)

Dakota State and Judson went through a see-saw battle in the opening set through the first 39 rallies, recording nine ties, seven lead changes, and a lead no greater than three points by both teams.  Knotted at 17-17, the Trojans used a 3-0 run capped by a kill from Madalyn Groft for a 20-17 lead and forced the Eagles to burn a timeout.

Leading 20-18, Dakota State used a strong closing run and outscored Judson 5-1 to secure a 1-0 match lead.  Maddi Langerock registered a kill to give the Trojans a 25-19 victory. 

DSU hit better than JU in the first set.  The Trojans hit nearly .300 with 15 kills and committed just one attack error in 47 swings.  The Eagles hit .137 with 15 kills and suffered eight attack errors in 51 attempts.

The second set saw a similar story from the first set.  Both teams went through 15 ties and seven lead changes.  The Trojans opened with a 14-11 lead after a service ace from Kate VanRooyan followed by Macey Wathen's kill.

Judson answered back with a 6-2 scoring run to regain their lead at 17-16.  Both teams battled back and forth until the Trojans led 24-23 for a set point opportunity to extend their match lead.

Alyssa Gerzel smashed a kill as Judson saved a set point chance, tying the second set at 24-24.  A service error by the Eagles gave the Trojans another set point chance at 25-24.  Gerzel added a kill to tie at 25-25.

Wathen earned a kill to give Dakota State at 26-25 lead in the second set.  Judson followed up with an attack error to give the Trojans a 2-0 match lead after a 27-25 victory. 

Both teams smashed 17 kills in the second set.  DSU hit .279 (5 errors in 43 swings) compared to JU .250 hitting percentage (5 errors in 48 attempts).

Dakota State raced to a 5-1 lead, thanks to a kill followed by a service ace from Sydney Schell.  Leading 10-6, the Trojans erupted for six straight points to balloon their lead to 16-6 after Wathen's kill.

DSU never trailed for the rest of the match, earning a 3-0 match victory after a 25-11 set three win.  Dakota State hit .290 (12 kills with 3 errors in 31 swings) and held Judson to a negative .065 hitting percentage (5 kills with 7 errors in 31 attempts).

Seven different Trojan players recorded at least two kills in the match, led by Brooklyn Grage with 10 kills.  She hit .364 in the match.  Schell added eight kills.  Wathen and Tristyn Maras each added seven kills.  Wathen hit .538.  Hailey Wathen tallied six kills.  Groft recorded four kills and Langerock two kills.

Groft produced a double-double of 13 set assists and 10 digs for DSU.  Langerock added 12 assists and five digs.  Schell contributed four set assists.

VanRooyan had three service aces and 16 digs for Dakota State.  Schell added 12 digs.  Grage collected four blocks.  M. Wathen had three blocks.  Hannah Evans and Maras each added two blocks.

Gerzel led the Eagles with a double-double of 12 kills and 10 digs.  Maisie Green and Jaclyn Riedl each recorded six kills.  Alina Romero produced 29 set assists.

Yomaillis Fernadez led the defense with 18 kills for Judson.  Emalee Wiley added 12 digs and Riedl 10 digs.

Dakota State outhit Judson 44-37 in the match.  The Trojans hit .289 (9 errors in 121 attempts) compared to the Eagles .131 hitting percentage (20 errors in 130 swings). 

DSU was 96.1 percent from the serving line, earning five service aces with three errors in 76 serves.  JU was 91.1 percent from the serving line with three aces and five errors in 56 attempts.