DENVER – The Dakota Wesleyan University volleyball team fought hard in two matches at the Johnson & Wales Classic, but suffered a pair of four-set losses Saturday in Denver.
The Tigers fell to Kansas Wesleyan University and Oklahoma Wesleyan University on the final day of the event to drop to 7-5 overall this season.
Against KWU, the Tigers dropped the first set 25-16 but stormed back in the second set with a 25-7 win. The final two set were much closer, each going to extra points. KWU took both 26-24 and 27-25. In the finale, DWU took the first set before dropping the next three. The final line score was 19-25, 25-17. 25-23, 29-27.
The Tigers were led on offense against KWU by junior Lauren Tadlock (Rapid City, S.D.) with 13 kills. She added 10 digs for a double-double. Juniors Dana Misiaszek (Mitchell, S.D.) and Taylor Spence (North Branch, Minn.) each finished with double digit kills, racking up 12 and 10, respectively.
Senior Maggie Stehly (Sioux Falls, S.D.) continued her strong start to the season with a team-high 17 digs, while junior Michelle Van Epps (Lakefield, Minn.) finished with a match-high 43 assists.
In the second game, Misiaszek led the way in kills with a season-high 16. Spence added 13 kills, while junior Sammy Fluck (Becker, Minn.) and Tadlock added 12 and 10, respectively. Stehly added another 17 digs and Van Epps 49 assists.
The Tigers play Presentation College for the third time this season at 7:30 p.m. in Aberdeen, S.D., on Tuesday. DWU swept the Saints in both matchups so far this season.