September 5, 2026
MADISON, S.D. — Dakota State (S.D.) survived a furious comeback by Bismarck State (N.D.) Saturday afternoon, prevailing in a five-set Frontier Conference women's volleyball thriller at DSU Fieldhouse. The Trojans earned their second conference victory of the season, winning for the 11
th time in the last 13 home conference matches since joining the Frontier Conference last season.
The Trojans grabbed the first two sets before the Mystics answered by winning the next two frames to force a deciding fifth set. Dakota State regrouped in the finale and secured a 3-2 victory by scores of 25-17, 25-21, 13-25, 20-25 and 15-9.
The victory lifted DSU to 5-3 overall and 2-0 in Frontier Conference play, while Bismarck State fell to 2-6 overall and 0-3 in league play.
How it happened
Dakota State used a strong offensive start to take the opening set. After the teams battled through the early portion of the frame, the Trojans created separation with a 6-1 scoring run to open a 16-10 advantage.
DSU maintained its cushion down the stretch.
Emily Nelson recorded a kill for a 22-16 lead, followed by a block from Nelson and
Lauryn Kloth to extend the margin to 23-16.
Gabi Borresen later put the Trojans at set point before Nelson closed the opening frame with a service ace for the 25-17 victory.
The Trojans collected 15 kills with just three errors in 31 swings for a .387 hitting percentage.
Bismarck State challenged Dakota State throughout the second set. The Mystics held a 17-15 advantage before the Trojans responded with four consecutive points to move in front 19-17. BSC pulled within 19-18, but DSU answered and eventually extended its advantage to 23-19 after a Nelson kill.
Tristyn Maras delivered another kill to put Dakota State at set point, and a Bismarck State service error completed DSU's 25-21 victory and gave the Trojans a 2-0 match lead.
The Mystics responded in the third set. Bismarck State surged to a 17-7 advantage and never allowed Dakota State to mount a comeback. The visitors hit .391 in the set, registering 11 kills and only two attack errors in 23 attempts. BSC closed the frame with a 25-13 victory to trim Dakota State's match lead to 2-1.
Bismarck State continued its momentum in the fourth set. The Mystics held a 17-13 advantage before DSU scored three straight points to pull within 17-16. BSC answered and rebuilt its lead to 20-17.
Dakota State continued to battle and drew within 22-20 on a Nelson kill, but Bismarck State scored the final three points of the set. Ellie Baumstarck and Ashlee Stanger provided the final two kills as the Mystics won 25-20 and forced a fifth set.
The Trojans responded in the deciding frame.
With Dakota State holding an 8-6 advantage,
Kate VanRooyan delivered a service ace. Bismarck State cut the deficit to 8-7, but Nelson followed with a kill and the Trojans capitalized on a BSC attack error for a 10-7 advantage.
Nelson added another kill for an 11-8 lead. The Trojans then took advantage of consecutive Bismarck State attack errors before
Raya Van Beek smashed a kill to extend Dakota State's lead to 14-8. After BSC scored once,
Macey Wathen finished the match with a kill from Nelson for the 15-9 victory.
Dakota State hit .364 in the deciding set with 10 kills and just two attack errors in 22 attempts. BSC was held to .067 hitting percentage (5 kills with 4 errors in 15 swings).
Inside the box score
Dakota State finished the match with 58 kills and 26 attack errors in 153 attempts for a .209 hitting percentage. The Trojans collected 50 assists, 57 digs, two service aces and four total blocks. Bismarck State finished with 54 kills and 28 errors in 147 swings for a .177 hitting percentage, along with 48 assists, 54 digs, six service aces and nine total blocks.
Van Beek led Dakota State's attack, smashing 12 kills with only one error in 18 attempts for a match-high .611 hitting percentage. She also collected four digs and a block assist.
Maras matched Van Beek with 12 kills, hitting .370 after committing only two errors in 27 attempts. She added two block assists. Kloth registered nine kills and hit .273, while Nelson and
Macey Wathen each contributed eight kills. Nelson added 25 assists, five digs, one service ace and a block assist.
Borresen produced a double-double for the Trojans, dishing out 20 assists and collecting 11 digs.
Kate VanRooyan paced DSU's back-row defense with 14 digs and added a service ace, while
Sydney Wathen reached double figures with 10 digs.
Bismarck State was led offensively by Reese Duchsherer and Stanger with 13 kills apiece. Stanger hit .357 and added four block assists, while McKenna Brendel finished with 10 kills and four block assists. Ellie Baumstarck hit .400 with six kills.
Aislyn Hogan directed the Mystics' offense with 44 assists. Piper Harris led all players with 21 digs, while Shayna Roach registered 10 digs and four service aces.
Up next
Dakota State heads on the road in the league play for the first time this season, visiting Rocky Mountain (Mont.) Friday at 7 p.m. (Central Time)/6 p.m. (Mountain Time). The match is being played in Billings, Mont., at Fortin Education Center.
The Trojans then head to Helena, Mont., for another conference match against Carroll (Mont.) at PE Center next Saturday (Sept. 12). The match is set for 4 p.m. (CT)/3 p.m. (MT).
