Trojans defeat rival Tigers in home volleyball opener

MADISON, S.D. (Dakota State) – Dakota State (S.D.) kicked off their home volleyball schedule Saturday afternoon, holding rival Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) to below .100 hitting percentage for a 3-1 match victory at DSU Fieldhouse.  Set scores were 25-19, 25-20, 24-26, and 25-15.

Both teams received votes (RV) to the NAIA Women’s Volleyball Coaches’ Top 25 preseason poll.  The Trojans won their second straight match, lifting their overall record to 3-2.  DWU fell to 1-4 overall record.

DSU ended their four-match losing skid (all in five sets) with the Tigers, earning their first win since Oct. 5, 2021.  It was also the Trojans’ first home win over DWU since Sept. 26, 2018, at DSU Fieldhouse.

Dakota State won the junior varsity match over Dakota Wesleyan by the scores of 27-25, 25-21, and 25-20.

The Trojans stay home Wednesday evening as they host another member of the Great Plains Athletic Conference, (RV) Morningside (Iowa).  The junior varsity match is set for 5 p.m., followed by the varsity match at 7 p.m.

There will be a Swap ‘Ur Swag in the lobby, starting at 6:30 p.m., sponsored by the DSU Trojan Pride Committee (DSU students – bring your old shirt to receive a DSU T-shirt).

(RV) Dakota State (S.D.) 3, (RV) Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) 1 – FINAL (25-19, 25-20, 24-26, 25-15)

Dakota State and Dakota Wesleyan battled back and forth in the first set with 10 ties, four lead changes, and a lead no greater than three points by the Trojans (6-3 after Tristyn Maras’ kill assisted by Maddi Langerock).Trailing 17-16, DSU went on a 4-0 scoring run after three straight kills by three different hitters (Sydney Schell, Gwendolyn Vongkasemsiri, and Brooklyn Grage.  An attack error by the Tigers gave the Trojans a 20-16 and forced DWU to burn their first timeout.The Tigers could get no closer than two points as the Trojans pulled away to take a 1-0 match lead, winning 25-19. Dakota State hit .318 in the opening set (17 kills with 3 errors in 44 swings) and held Dakota Wesleyan to .152 hitting percentage (14 kills with 7 errors in 46 attempts).DWU kicked off the second set with an 5-1 early lead, capped by a block from Kayleigh Hybertson and Karly VanDerWerff).  The Trojans answered with a 4-0 scoring run to knot the second set at 5-5 after smashing a kill by Macey Wathen.Despite being behind at 13-12, the Trojans roared with a 7-0 scoring run capped by a kill from Kate VanRooyan for a 19-13 lead.DSU never trailed for the rest of the second set, extending their match lead to 2-0.  Maras smashed a kill (assisted by Langerock) to earn a 25-20 victory.The Trojans registered a hitting percentage of .220 (12 kills with 3 errors in 41 swings) and held the Tigers to .024 hitting percentage (11 kills with 10 errors in 42 attempts).Dakota State raced to a 6-2 lead, capped by a kill from Sophie Tuttle.  The Tigers rallied back with a 4-0 scoring run to tie the third set at 6-6.A total of 14 ties and five lead changes were recorded during the third set.  At 19-19, the Tigers used a 5-1 scoring run to set up a set point opportunity to extend the match after leading 24-20.After coming out from their second timeout of the third set, Dakota State stormed back by saving four straight set point chances by the Tigers.  Tuttle smashed a kill for a 24-24 tie.DWU closed the third set by taking advantage of two DSU’s errors for a 26-24 victory.  The Tigers outhit the Trojans 15-13 in the third set.The Trojans sprinted to a 9-2 lead in the fourth set, thanks to four errors committed by the Tigers.  DSU never trailed for the rest of the fourth set, earning a 25-15 victory and securing the match victory.Dakota State smashed 16 kills in the fourth set and hit .343 (4 errors in 35 swings).  Dakota Wesleyan was held to a negative .026 hitting percentage (6 kills with 7 errors in 38 attempts).Three Trojan hitters produced double digit kills, led by Schell with 15 kills.  She also had a double-double with 13 digs.  Wathen added career-highs 13 kills and .524 hitting percentage.  She tallied four blocks.  Tuttle tied season-highs 10 kills and three blocks. Grage recorded eight kills and three blocks for DSU.  Maras had five kills and a block.  Vongkasemsiri recorded five blocks.Langerock hit a double-double of 24 set assists and 11 digs for Dakota State.  Madalyn Groft added a double-double of 22 assists and 12 digs.VanRooyan led the Trojans’ defense with 31 digs.  Reagan VanRooyan added 10 digs.  Groft, K. VanRooyan, and Wathen each had a service ace.Abigail Brunsing led the Tigers with 12 kills.  Lily Ranschau added 11 kills.  VanDerWerff registered seven kills.Kayleigh Hybertson and Presly Pastian each had 21 set assists for DWU.  Hybertson had a double-double with 12 digs.  Brunsing, Emily Dale, VanDerWerff, and Hybertson each recorded two blocks.Elizabeth Tyler led Dakota Wesleyan’s defense with 31 digs.  Abigail Zegar added 13 digs.Dakota State outhit DWU 58-46 in the match.  The Trojans recorded .241 hitting percentage (17 errors in 170 attempts) compared to the Tigers .099 hitting efficiency (29 attack errors in 172 swings).DWU was 90.1 percent at the serving line with four aces and eight errors in 81 serves.  DSU was 89.8 percent from the serving line with three aces and 10 errors in 98 attempts.The Trojans collected 10 blocks in the match to the Tigers four blocks.