September 2, 2025
MADISON, S.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) played their home opener Tuesday evening at DSU Fieldhouse, hosting rival Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) in the battle of NAIA's receiving votes (RV) in the Coaches' Preseason Top 25 national poll. The Trojan volleyball team went the distance with the Tigers before falling in a five-set battle, 20-25, 25-22, 25-22, 15-25, 15-11.
Match Summary
Dakota State (4-1 overall record) opened strong, taking the first set 25-20 behind an efficient offense led by sophomore outside hitters. DSU held DWU to just a .143 hitting percentage in the frame, with timely kills from
Lauryn Kloth and
Tristyn Maras.
Momentum shifted in the next two sets as Dakota Wesleyan (6-4 overall record) steadied its attack. The Tigers used balanced scoring from
Karly VanDerWerff (17 kills) and
Emily Dale (10 kills, 5 blocks) to grind out 25-22 wins in both the second and third frames. DSU's offense faltered with unforced errors, hitting just .091 in the second set and .170 in the third.
The Trojans roared back in the fourth set, dominating with a .275 hitting clip while forcing DWU into six errors. Kloth and Maras combined for several momentum-swinging kills, and
Sophie Tuttle added six digs and a key block as DSU evened the match at two sets apiece with a 25-15 victory.
In the decisive fifth, DWU surged early and never trailed after a 9-7 lead. The Tigers' error-free hitting (9 kills, .429 percentage) proved decisive, while DSU couldn't overcome four attack errors. DWU sealed the 15-11 set and the match on VanDerWerff's final kill.
Dakota State Leaders
- Tristyn Maras – 16 kills (career high), 10 digs (career high), 2 blocks (17.5 points)
- Sophie Tuttle – 16 kills (career high), 6 digs, 1 block (16.5 points)
- Halle Bruflat – 15 kills, 5 digs, 2 blocks (all career highs)
- Lauryn Kloth – 13 kills (season high), .303 hitting percentage, 5 digs (season high)
- Macey Wathen – 12 kills (season high), 3 blocks
- Maddi Langerock – 60 assists (career high), 16 digs, 2.5 points
- Kate VanRooyan – 24 digs (season high), 8 assists (season high), 1 ace
- Reagan VanRooyan – 19 digs (career high)
The Trojans out-dug the Tigers 102-93 and posted a balanced 74 kills but were undone by 35 attack errors and DWU's late-match efficiency.
Looking Ahead
Dakota State returns to action this weekend, opening their 22-match Frontier conference schedule. The Trojans begin their three-match road trip, starting Friday at Dickinson State (N.D.). The match is set for 7 p.m. (Central Time)/6 p.m. (Mountain Time) at Scott Gymnasium in Dickinson, N.D.
