October 9, 2026
BISMARCK, N.D. — Dakota State (S.D.) returned to the win column Friday evening, sweeping Bismarck State (N.D.) in three straight sets in a Frontier Conference women's volleyball match at the Bavendick Center. The Trojans won by the scores of 25-10, 25-19 and 25-23, kicking off their second half of the Frontier Conference schedule.
Dakota State improved to 10-8 overall and 7-5 in Frontier Conference play, while Bismarck State fell to 7-10 overall and 5-7 in league action.
The Trojans completed the regular-season series sweep of the Mystics, winning the first meeting in five-set thriller at DSU Fieldhouse last month.
DSU earned their double digit wins for the 16
th time in the last 17 seasons.
How it happened
Dakota State dominated the opening set, using an early 8-3 advantage to build a commanding lead, highlighted by a 5-0 scoring run. The Trojans extended their lead to 18-7 and closed the set with a 25-10 victory. DSU held Bismarck State to a negative .263 hitting percentage (4 kills with 14 attack errors in 38 swings) in the first set (Trojans hit .250 in the first set – 10 kills with 3 attack errors in 28 attempts).
The Trojans continued their offensive momentum in the second set, recording a match-high 18 kills and a .318 hitting percentage. Dakota State led 14-9 before the Mystics trimmed the deficit to 19-18. DSU responded by scoring six of the final seven points, capped by consecutive kills from Sapp, to secure a 25-19 victory and a 2-0 match lead.
Bismarck State challenged Dakota State throughout the third set, overcoming an early 3-0 deficit and eventually taking a 20-16 lead. The Trojans rallied late to complete the three-set sweep with a 25-23 victory.
The Mystics later extended their lead to 23-19, putting themselves two points away from forcing a fourth set. Dakota State responded with six consecutive points to complete the comeback. Maras started the rally with a kill, followed by a kill from Sapp. The Trojans tied the set at 23-23 on consecutive Bismarck State attack errors before Kloth helped produce blocks on the final two points to seal the 25-23 victory.
Inside the box score
Sapp powered the Trojans' offense with a match-high 14 kills and a .294 hitting percentage.
Raya Van Beek added nine kills while hitting an impressive .421. Maras contributed seven kills, while Kloth and
Macey Wathen each finished with five.
Emily Nelson directed the Trojans' offense with 23 set assists and nine digs.
Gabi Borresen added 15 assists and six digs, while libero
Kate VanRooyan collected a team-high 12 digs and five assists.
Sydney Wathen contributed 10 digs and the Trojans' lone service ace. Kloth led the defensive effort at the net with three solo blocks and two block assists (5 total blocks). Maras added six digs.
The Trojans registered 43 kills and committed just 13 attack errors in 120 attempts for a .250 hitting percentage. Dakota State limited the Mystics to 28 kills and a .017 hitting percentage, forcing 26 attack errors.
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Dakota State finished with 55 digs, six team blocks, 43 set assists and one service ace.
Ashlee Stanger led the Mystics with 10 kills and three block assists/solo blocks combined, while McKenna Brendel added eight kills. Jordyn Rood contributed four kills.
Aislyn Hogan paced Bismarck State with 22 set assists, nine digs and a service ace. Libero Piper Harris recorded a match-high 14 digs, while Aubrey Flynn and Brooklyn Sand added nine and eight digs, respectively.
The Mystics finished with 56 digs, 27 set assists, five team blocks and two service aces.
Up next
Dakota State closes out their four-match Frontier Conference trip Saturday afternoon, visiting Dickinson State (N.D.). The match is set to be played at Scott Gymnasium in Dickinson, N.D. at 2 p.m. (Central Time)/1 p.m. (Mountain Time).
