Career highs push Tigers past Saints

ABERDEEN, S.D. – Thanks to career highs by Rebecca Frick (Yankton, S.D.) and Emily Brunsing (Wagner, S.D.), the Dakota Wesleyan University volleyball team defeated the Presentation College Saints in four sets Tuesday in Aberdeen, S.D.

 Set scores were 23-25, 25-22, 25-18, 25-21.

 In the first set the Saints (10-13) got out to a quick 10-3 lead. Trailing 18-8, the Tigers strung together a 13-3 run to tie the game at 21. However, PC closed out the opening set with a kill.

 The Tigers (14-11) jumped out to an 11-5 lead in the second set after a Frick kill. Later in the set, Bridgett Knobbe (Norfolk, Neb.) connected on a kill to give DWU a 17-15 lead and a set victory.

 After taking the third set, DWU trailed early in the fourth set as the Saints led, 16-9. But, the Tigers chipped away at the deficit as they scored four-straight points with a Brunsing kill. Down 20-17, DWU scored eight of the final nine points to complete the comeback and win three-straight sets to take the road victory.

 Frick finished with a career-high 29 digs and 21 kills, as Brunsing tallied a career-high 12 kills. Mallory Cooper (Orchard, Neb.) recorded 25 digs, while Sierra Mesman (Springfield, S.D.) notched 13 digs and Knobbe added 37 assists and 11 digs.

 The Tigers return to conference play as they take on the University of Jamestown at 6:30 p.m. tomorrow in Jamestown, N.D.