September 12, 2026
HELENA, Mont. — Dakota State (S.D.) and Carroll (Mont.) traded set victories through the first four frames Saturday afternoon before the Saints pulled away in the deciding fifth set for a 3-2 Frontier Conference victory at the PE Center.
Carroll held off the Trojans 25-23 in the opening set before Dakota State answered with a 25-18 second-set victory. The Saints regained the match lead with a 25-20 win in the third, while DSU forced a deciding set after claiming the fourth 25-19. Carroll closed the match with a 15-8 victory in the fifth.
The setback dropped Dakota State to 6-4 overall and 3-1 in Frontier Conference play. Carroll improved to 9-3 overall and 4-1 in league play.
How it happened
Dakota State opened the match with a 4-0 advantage, highlighted by
Reagan VanRooyan's service ace and a
Kaedyn Sapp kill. The Trojans continued to lead for much of the opening set and held an 18-15 advantage following a
Tristyn Maras kill.
Carroll rallied to tie the set at 19-19 and later took a 22-21 lead. DSU responded to even the score at 22 before a
Macey Wathen kill put the Trojans back in front 23-22. The Saints scored the final three points, however, including consecutive kills by Birdie Heuiser, to secure the 25-23 victory.
Dakota State responded with its strongest offensive performance of the match in the second set. The Trojans hit .417 with 18 kills and just three attack errors in 36 attempts.
DSU broke away from an 8-6 advantage with a 5-2 run for a 13-8 lead. The Trojans later extended their advantage to 17-10 and never allowed Carroll to get closer than six points down the stretch. Wathen closed the set with a kill for the 25-18 victory, evening the match at one set apiece.
The third set featured seven ties through the early stages before Carroll created separation. With the Saints leading 12-11, Carroll used a 4-0 run to extend its advantage to 16-11. Dakota State trimmed the deficit to 18-16, but the Saints answered and eventually built a 24-19 lead. Carroll finished the set with a 25-20 victory to take a 2-1 match lead.
The Trojans responded again in the fourth set. After falling behind 3-1, DSU reeled off six consecutive points for a 7-3 lead. Sapp provided three kills during the surge.
Carroll pulled within 18-17 later in the set, but Dakota State closed strong. The Trojans scored seven of the final nine points, including the last five points of the set.
Emily Nelson's kill completed the 25-19 victory and forced the fifth set.
Carroll gained the early momentum in the deciding frame, turning a 2-2 tie into a 5-2 advantage. Dakota State got within 5-4 following back-to-back Sapp kills, but the Saints answered with three straight points for an 8-4 lead at the changeover.
The Trojans were unable to complete another comeback as Carroll pulled away for the 15-8 victory to secure the five-set match.
Inside the box score
Sapp paced Dakota State's attack with a match-high 20 kills (career high), hitting .275 on 51 swings. Maras followed with a season-high 18 kills and a .220 hitting percentage.
Macey Wathen added eight kills, while Nelson and
Raya Van Beek each collected seven kills. Van Beek hit a team-best .375 with just one error in 16 attempts.
Gabi Borresen led the Trojans with 28 assists and added nine digs and a service ace. Nelson contributed 20 assists and 12 digs, while
Sydney Wathen registered seven assists and 20 digs.
Reagan VanRooyan led Dakota State's back row with match-high 21 digs (career high) and recorded two service aces.
Sydney Wathen added 20 digs (career high), Nelson had 12 and Borresen finished with nine.
Lauryn Kloth led DSU at the net with four block assists. Maras recorded two block assists.
Dakota State finished with 63 kills and 26 attack errors in 196 attempts for a .189 hitting percentage. Carroll recorded 61 kills and 23 errors on 180 swings for a .211 percentage.
The Trojans held a 93-90 advantage in digs. Both teams finished with four service aces, while Carroll held a 7-5 advantage in total blocks.
Birdie Heuiser led Carroll with 17 kills and hit .455. Lauren Heuiser added 16 kills and four blocks, while Kaylen Hay finished with 12 kills. Lauren Fox directed the Saints' offense with 51 assists and added 13 digs and five block assists.
Up next
Dakota State returns home next weekend as they continue their Frontier Conference play. The Trojans host Montana Western Friday evening at 5 p.m. Wear purple/teal color clothing to help raise suicide prevention awareness).
