SETTING THE STANDARD: Tigers look to create new era of volleyball at DWU

MITCHELL, S.D. - For the previous three seasons, the Dakota Wesleyan University volleyball team has been on the brink of postseason play but has missed out on the Great Plains Athletic Conference Tournament each year. However, with 11 returning upperclassmen and one of the most talented recruiting classes under head coach Lindsay Wilber, the Tigers look to make the postseason tournament for the first time under the sixth-year head coach and set a precedence for DWU volleyball teams for years to come.

 In each of the last three seasons, the Tigers either tied for eighth place or finished one game behind eighth place, which would put them into the GPAC Postseason Tournament. Last year DWU finished in a four-way tie for seventh place. But a conference tiebreaker kept the Tigers out of postseason play. The story remained true in the 2017 season as DWU tied for eighth with Concordia University, but was held out of the postseason due to another tiebreaker.

 In 2016, the Tigers finished one game behind Briar Cliff University for eighth place, but finished with an overall record of 18-14, good for the first winning season since 1993. If DWU wants to break its' current streak of narrowly missing postseason play, this season's roster might be the one to do just that.

 Of the 11 returning upperclassmen, five of them are seniors, including All-GPAC First Team member Rebecca Frick. The Yankton, S.D., native sits fourth all-time on the DWU kills chart with 1,210 career kills, along with 1,015 career digs, good for 13^th on the DWU all-time list. Last season Frick finished with 504 kills, 469 digs and 20 aces; leading the team in each category. She also finished the season ranked fifth in the NAIA with 4.5 kills per set and 12^th in total kills. The 4.5 kills per set ranked second in the GPAC, while her 469 digs ranked fourth in the conference.

 "Becky has started for us since she was a freshman and having her knowledge of the game and leadership is going to be key," Wilber said. "Becky finished last fall with over 1,000 kills and 1,000 digs and was second on the team in blocking. In the conference, Becky was in the top four in kills per set and total kills. She was also top 10 in digs per set and total digs. She will play six rotations on the court once again and I see her breaking a lot of DWU records this fall. The younger athletes really look up to her and our entire senior class does as well on and off the court."

 Other seniors that Wilber brings back include Mallory Cooper, Emily Brunsing, Brittany Bergquist and Sydney Fritz. Cooper ranks just behind Frick on the all-time digs list with 1,000 digs in her career. Cooper finished 2018 with 402 digs which put her ninth in the GPAC, while her 29 digs against Mayville State University tallied a career high for her.

 Brunsing and Bergquist add a blocking threat at the net that provides solidarity to the Tiger defense. Brunsing led the team with 126 blocks, good for fourth in the conference as she was named All-GPAC Honorable Mention a season ago. She also finished 24^th in the NAIA with 1.1 blocks per set and 41^st in total blocks. The Wagner, S.D., native finished second on the team with 198 kills, while averaging 1.8 kills per set. Bergquist had a breakout season in 2018 as she finished second on the team with 0.8 blocks per set and notched 41 total blocks. The Wolsey, S.D., native also finished with 76 kills, 1.6 kills per set and tallied a career-high 12 kills against Friends University.

 Fritz got off to a quick start last season as she tallied 147 kills and 2.7 kills per set which put her fourth on the team. She also provided depth at the net as she recorded 16 total blocks. However, the season was cut short for Fritz as she suffered an injury.

 "Having five seniors on the squad makes things in practice and matches so much easier," Wilber commented. "They have been here time and time before, so they know how we go about our daily practice routines, how we prepare for matches and the expectations I have. They also understand how tough the GPAC is and what we need to do to win. These five seniors have worked hard in the weight room, classroom and in practice and I see wonderful successes that will take place this fall. Emily (Brunsing) has started in the middle for us for two years prior to this fall and she was in the top-10 in blocking in the conference last fall. Brittany (Bergquist) will anchor another middle hitter position for us, and I look for her to really take off. Mallory (Cooper) has played in the backrow for her entire career and is a steady defender and passer. Sydney (Fritz) is coming off an injury in 2018 and will look to continue to get her strength back."

 The six juniors that round out the returning upperclassmen are Sara Herman, Bridgett Knobbe, Callie Heath, Elena Svingen, Chaydon Metzger and Natalie Neal. Knobbe was tabbed to the All-GPAC Honorable Mention Team for the second-consecutive time in her career in 2018 after leading the team with 1,050 assists. She currently ranks sixth on the DWU all-time assists list with 2,116 career assists. Knobbe ranked fifth in the GPAC with 9.4 assists per set, while her 1,050 assists also put her fifth in the conference. She also provided help at the net as she tallied 51 total blocks on the season.

 Herman recorded another standout season as she finished second on the team with 430 digs and 3.9 digs per set, ranking sixth in the GPAC in both categories. She finished tied for second on the team with 17 service aces, as arguably her best game came just two games into the season as she tallied 30 digs and an ace against William Penn University.

 With Heath, Svingen, Metzger and Neal seeing playing time last season, DWU will have plenty of experience to rely upon. Neal finished last season playing in 77 sets, recording 38 digs and eight service aces. Metzger saw an increase in playing time as the season progressed with 39 kills and 24 total blocks.

 "Many of them have varsity experience and I am able to use various players in various positions because of that," Wilber mentioned of her junior class. "They also have really bought into our culture of DWU volleyball and what it takes to be successful. Bridgett (Knobbe) will continue to lead us in the setting position and continues to get stronger each season. Sara (Herman) will work and compete for that libero position, while Chaydon (Metzger) really had a nice second part of the season in 2018. Callie (Heath), Natalie (Neal) and Elena (Svingen) have limited varsity experience but contribute in big ways on and off the court."

 Along with a strong group of upperclassmen, Wilber brings in a plethora of talented recruits to provide depth in the lineups. Black Hills State University transfer, Jadie DeLange, will provide experience at the net after recording 173 kills, 50 digs, 27 blocks and two aces in a season at BHSU. In high school, DeLange finished with over 300 kills, 224 digs and 32 blocks.

 Other newcomers that will look for immediate playing time include Dannielle Burns, Mariah Gloe, Madeline Else and Mackenzie Miller. Burns tallied 557 kills, 888 digs and 123 service aces in her high school career. Gloe completed her career with 755 kills, 919 digs, 82 aces, 1,174 serve receptions, 162 blocks and a serving percentage of .919. Else joins DWU from Holstein, Iowa, where she notched 1,626 assists, 191 kills, 129 aces, 354 digs and 137 blocks. Miller, a Mitchell native, will also look for playing time as she reached 1,000 kills and 1,000 digs in her career during her senior season.

 "We are excited about Jadie (DeLange), an outside hitter transfer from Black Hills State," Wilber commented. "I foresee her contending court time immediately. She is strong and has played volleyball in high school at a very high level and has been around the game for a long time. Madeline (Else) will really give us some depth in the setting position. She is versatile and has a nice touch on the ball. Danni (Burns) will really compete for a backrow position. She played for a high level club program and has a lot of big match experience. Mariah Gloe from Watertown and Mac Miller from Mitchell will help right away in the pin hitter positions. Both can make an impact immediately as a freshman."

 If the Tigers look to set a new standard of volleyball at DWU, they must overcome a difficult early-season schedule. The season begins with a trip to West Palm Beach, Fla., where they will play four games in two days. Instead of playing in the Corn Palace Classic over Labor Day Weekend like Tiger fans are accustomed to seeing, DWU hits the road for another four-game stand at the William Penn Invitational in Oskaloosa, Iowa.

 "We are definitely playing some more talented teams to start the season off when we are in Florida," Wilber said of her early schedule. "Teams that have been at the national tournament before so it will be good for us to get some big wins against tough opponents immediately before we enter our grueling conference schedule."

 The first home game is also the conference opener as DWU hosts Northwestern College, a team that finished 12^th in the NAIA last season, at 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 4 at the Corn Palace. The Tigers will host a triangular with York College (Neb.) and Presentation College on Saturday, Sept. 7. The annual Dig Pink Match will be played against Doane University at 5 p.m. on Oct. 26 in the Christen Family Athletic Center, while the Tigers square off against Morningside College for Senior Night at 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 6.