ber 24, 2026
DILLON, Mont. — Dakota State (S.D.) women's volleyball team bounced back from an opening-set setback Saturday evening, winning three consecutive sets to secure a 3-1 Frontier Conference victory over Montana Western at Dillon, Mont. The Trojans defeated the Bulldogs by scores of 19-25, 25-23, 25-22 and 25-21.
Dakota State raised their overall record to 15-9 and 12-6 Frontier conference record. The Trojans matched last year's wins total (12). Montana Western fell to 12-13 overall record and 11-7 in league play.
DSU completed their season series sweep over UMW, winning the first meeting at DSU Fieldhouse in three straight sets last month.
How it happened
Montana Western jumped to an early 10-3 advantage, forcing Dakota State to call its first timeout. The Bulldogs continued their offensive momentum, extending their lead to 21-12.
The Trojans mounted a late rally, trimming the deficit to 23-19 behind defensive pressure. Montana Western, however, scored the final two points to secure the opening set, 25-19.
The Bulldogs hit .182 with 14 kills in the first set, while Dakota State recorded 10 kills and a .071 hitting percentage.
The second set featured several momentum swings as Dakota State worked to even the match. After trailing 12-10, the Trojans used kills from Kloth and Sapp to build a 16-13 advantage to highlight a 6-1 scoring run.
Dakota State extended its lead to 20-16 after a kill by
Kaedyn Sapp, service ace by
Keira Murdock and a kill from
Kaylee Evenson. Montana Western responded with six consecutive points to take a 22-20 lead after a 6-0 scoring run.
The Trojans answered with four straight points, including a kill by
Macey Wathen and a block from
Kaylee Evenson and Kloth, to regain a 24-22 advantage. After the Bulldogs saved one set point, Evenson delivered the decisive kill to give Dakota State a 25-23 victory and even the match at one set apiece.
Dakota State produced 15 kills in the second set, compared to nine by Montana Western.
DSU carried its momentum into the third set, racing to a 10-2 advantage. The Trojans used a six-point scoring run, highlighted by kills from
Annika Cantrell,
Raya Van Beek, Wathen and Sapp, to establish the early cushion.
UMW battled back and narrowed the deficit to 15-12, but Dakota State responded with three consecutive points, including a kill by Sapp, a service ace by
Kate VanRooyan, and a kill from Cantrell.
The Bulldogs continued to threaten, cutting the Trojans' lead to 23-22 late in the set. Dakota State answered with the final two points, capped by a kill from Kloth, to claim a 25-22 victory and take a 2-1 match lead.
Dakota State collected 13 kills in the third set and limited Montana Western to a .015 hitting percentage.
The fourth set featured eight ties as both teams battled for control. Montana Western used a three-point run to establish an 11-8 advantage before Dakota State responded to even the score at 12-12, highlighted by a service ace from K. VanRooyan and a block by Wathen and Cantrell.
The Bulldogs regained a 16-13 lead, but the Trojans rallied to tie the set at 17-17 on a block by Kloth and Van Beek.
After Montana Western moved ahead 18-17, Dakota State scored six consecutive points to take a commanding 23-18 lead. Evenson delivered three kills during the run, while Kloth and Cantrell combined for key blocks.
Montana Western trimmed the deficit to 24-21, but Kloth delivered the match-winning kill to complete Dakota State's four-set victory.
The Trojans posted their best hitting percentage of the match in the fourth set at .162, collecting 13 kills and four team blocks.
Inside the box score
Sapp paced Dakota State's offense with a match-high 12 kills and seven digs. Kloth contributed nine kills, a .222 hitting percentage and seven block assists, finishing with a team-high 12.5 points. Cantrell added nine kills on a .250 hitting percentage and six block assists.
Evenson provided nine kills and two block assists for the Torjans. Van Beek contributed six kills and two block assists, while Wathen finished with three kills and two block assists.
Tristyn Maras added two kills, one service ace and one block assist.
K. VanRooyan anchored the Trojans' defense with a match-high 34 digs and two service aces.
Reagan VanRooyan added 21 digs, while Murdock recorded 15 digs and one service ace.
Borresen led Dakota State with 23 set assists and added eight digs. Nelson dished out 20 assists, collected five digs and registered one service ace.
As a team, Dakota State recorded 51 kills on 188 attacks, 45 assists, five service aces, 97 digs and 10 team blocks. The Trojans finished with a .106 hitting percentage.
Dani Brown led Montana Western with 10 kills and four block assists. Savana Warburton followed with eight kills, 18 digs and two service aces.
Antonia Duncan contributed seven kills on a .278 hitting percentage and five block assists. Jaiden Perez added seven kills and six block assists, while Kennedy Lingenfelter finished with seven kills and six block assists.
Madisyn Frazier led the Bulldogs defensively with 33 digs. Jayda Ward recorded 20 set assists and 11 digs, while Sophie Worden added 17 assists and 11 digs.
Montana Western finished with 45 kills, 43 assists, four service aces, 91 digs and 13 team blocks. The Bulldogs recorded a .082 hitting percentage.
Up next
Dakota State returns home at DSU Fieldhouse next weekend for their final home regular season matches. The Trojans host Providence (Mont.) Friday evening at 5 p.m. USA (Red, White, and Blue) is the theme to the volleyball match.
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