September 7, 2024

La CROSSE, Wis. – Dakota State (S.D.) faced a former North Star Athletic Association member Saturday morning at R.W. Beggs Gymnasium in the Viterbo (Wis) Fall Invitational.  The V-Hawks outhit the Trojans 59-48 in the match to earn a 3-1 victory.  Set scores were 25-18, 25-21, 19-25, and 25-17.

Dakota State, receiving votes in the NAIA Women's Volleyball Coaches' Top 25 national poll, saw their three-match winning came to an end and fell to 7-5 overall record.  Viterbo, who joined the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference this season and ranked No. 17 in the national poll, improved to 7-7 overall record.

DSU continues their action on the road Tuesday evening, visiting rival Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.).  There will be a junior varsity match at 5 p.m., followed by the varsity match at 7 p.m.  Both matches will be held at the Christen Family Athletic Center in Mitchell, S.D.

(17) Viterbo (Wis.) 3, (RV) Dakota State (S.D.) 1 – FINAL (25-18, 25-21, 19-25, 25-17)

Viterbo sparked a 6-1 opening run, thanks to four consecutive kills, forcing Dakota State to burn their first timeout of the first set.  The V-Hawks never trailed in the first set as they rolled to a 25-18 victory and 1-0 match lead.  VU outhit DSU 17-8 in the first set.  The V-Hawks hit .231 (8 errors in 39 attempts) and held the Trojans to .054 hitting efficiency.

Viterbo used another fast start in the second set, starting with a 4-1 lead after a kill from Jada Mitchell.  Macey Wathen smashed a kill as the Trojans trailed by two points at 4-2.  The Trojans could get no closer than two points on another occasion at 5-3 after Brooklyn Grage's kill.

Trailing 16-10, DSU used a mini 5-2 scoring run to trim VU's lead to 18-15 as Hailey Wathen hit a service ace.  Hailee Halverson smashed a kill as the V-Hawks' lead grew to 23-18 and forced the Trojans to call a timeout.

Viterbo committed three straight attack errors as the Trojans' deficit reduced to 23-21.  Sadie Treptow smashed a kill, followed by a kill from Halverson secured a 2-0 match lead for the Viterbo after winning 25-21.

VU outhit DSU 18-13 in the second set.  The V-Hawks hit .265 (5 errors in 49 swings) compared to the Trojans' .227 hitting percentage (3 errors in 44 attempts).

Dakota State sparked a 5-0 scoring run after trailing 1-0 in the third set, thanks to a kill from M. Wathen followed by three straight hills by H. Wathen and a kill from Grage for a 5-1 lead.

The V-Hawks committed back-to-back attack errors to give the Trojans a 12-6 lead.  VU called their second timeout of the third set.

VU went on a 7-2 run to cut DSU's lead to 14-13 after an attack error by the Trojans.  The Trojans then went on an 8-2 outburst to balloon their lead to 22-15 after Tristyn Maras' kill.

Grage sealed the third set victory with a block, giving the Trojans a 25-19 win and extended the match into the fourth set (DSU trailed 2-1 in the match).

Dakota State poured in 18 kills and hit an impressive .342 in the third set (5 errors in 38 attempts).  Viterbo registered a .200 hitting percentage (6 errors in 35 swings).

Both teams went through a see-saw battle in the fourth set with six tie scores and three lead changes.  Dakota State led 13-11, while Viterbo used a 14-4 closing run to secure the victory.  Martina McGrath smashed a kill to give the V-Hawks a 25-17 set four victory.

Both teams struggled offensively in the fourth set with the V-Hawks hitting .167 (11 kills with 5 errors in 36 attempts).  The Trojans were held to a negative .028 hitting percentage (9 kills with 10 errors in 36 swings).

Maras led Dakota State's offense attack with 12 kills and hit .450.  H. Wathen and Grage each tallied 10 kills.  H. Wathen recorded three service aces.  Grage registered five blocks.  Sydney Schell had nine kills.  M. Wathen recorded five kills and five blocks.

Madalyn Groft produced a double-double of 23 set assists and 13 digs for DSU.  Maddi Langerock added 15 assists.  Kate VanRooyan had 18 digs.  Schell added 17 digs. 

Mitchell powered the V-Hawks with 15 kills and hit .448 in the match.  She had six blocks.  Grace Peyron added 10 kills and registered a hitting percentage of .308.  Halverson had 11 kills.  McGrath added nine kills and seven blocks.

Cailie Kowal contributed a double-double of 29 set assists and 12 digs for VU.  Maddie Connor added 21 assists and seven digs.   Kenidi McCabe collected 20 digs.  Grace Check had 13 digs. 

Viterbo hit .220 in the match (59 kills with 24 attack errors in 159 swings) compared to Dakota State .155 hitting percentage (48 kills with 24 errors in 155 attempts). 

The V-Hawks were 94.9 percent from the serving line with seven aces and five errors in 93 attempts.  The Trojans were 96.3 percent at the service line with four aces and three errors in 82 serves.

Viterbo earned 13 blocks in the match to Dakota State eight blocks.  The V-Hawks had 76 digs compared to the Trojans 64 digs.