Tigers Drop GPAC Home Opener to Mustangs

MITCHELL, S.D. – The Dakota Wesleyan University volleyball team opened the home portion of the 2014 Great Plains Athletic Conference season with a three-set loss to Morningside College Tuesday, Sept. 23 at the Christen Family Athletic Center in Mitchell, S.D.

The set scores were 25-23, 25-19, 25-13, dropping the Tigers to 4-8 overall and 0-3 in the GPAC.

DWU evened the first set at 22 after trailing by as many as six points earlier, but the Mustangs closed it out to take the 1-0 lead. The Tigers came out swinging in the second set, jumping out to a 10-3 lead before Morningside rallied to win 22 of the final 31 points. The Mustangs controlled from the opening point in the third set to pick up their first win in the GPAC this season.

The Tigers were led by sophomore Lauren Tadlock (Rapid City, S.D.) with 11 kills, while junior Libero Maggie Stehly (Sioux Falls, S.D.) added 11 digs. Sophomore setter Michelle Van Epps (Lakefield, Minn.) finished with 23 assists and sophomore Sammy Fluck (Becker, Minn.) chipped in with 2.5 blocks.

The Mustangs (13-5, 1-2 GPAC) got a game-high 14 digs from Katie Kuck, while Amanda Woodman added 10 kills in the win.

The Tigers will look to rebound with a match against Presentation College at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday in Aberdeen, S.D.