Tigers return home with perfect record

OSKALOOSA, Iowa – In its' second tournament of the season, the Dakota Wesleyan University volleyball team finished with four victories at the Wendy's Labor Day Classic on Saturday and Sunday in Oskaloosa, Iowa.

 The Tigers (8-0) battled host school, William Penn University in the opening game of the tournament. DWU got off to a slow start as they dropped the opening set, 25-17. However, the Tigers came roaring back with a 25-16 victory in set two.

 The third set was close throughout as neither team led by more than three points. The Statesmen (5-3) held a 17-14 advantage until Jadie DeLange (Monument, Colo.) recorded a kill. The Tigers evened the match after a Mariah Gloe (Watertown, S.D.) service ace and an Emily Brunsing (Wagner, S.D.) kill.

 DWU closed out the third set with three-straight points that was capped off with a Rebecca Frick (Yankton, S.D.) kill and service ace.

 WPU went on to take the fourth set, 25-23 from the Tigers. But, DWU opened the fifth set with an 11-2 lead after a Mackenzie Miller (Mitchell, S.D.) kill and a Frick ace. The Tigers capped off the match with a fifth-set victory, 15-11 to take the five-set thriller.

 Frick finished with 17 kills, 16 digs and three aces, while Mallory Cooper (Orchard, Neb.) tallied 26 digs and three aces. Brittany Bergquist (Wolsey, S.D.) recorded four total blocks, seven kills and a pair of digs, as DeLange added seven kills and Bridgett Knobbe (Norfolk, Neb.) notched 43 assists.

 The Tigers took on Graceland University for their second game of Saturday. Both teams traded kills in the opening set as the score was tied, 9-9. Moments later, DWU found itself trailing, 15-11. But, kills by Brunsing, Frick and Bergquist and an ace by Cooper tied the game at 16.

 DWU scored the final three points of the opening set to win, 26-24. The Tigers went on to take set two, 25-15 and set three, 25-11 to win in straight sets.

 Brunsing finished with seven kills and 1.5 blocks, while Frick tallied eight kills and five digs. Knobbe recorded 25 assists and Dannielle Burns (Raymond, Minn.) notched six digs.

 In the opening game on Sunday, the Tigers took on Governors State University and defeated the Jaguars in straight sets; 25-11, 25-14, 25-9. Frick led the team with 17 kills and Knobbe chipped in 31 assists and 10 digs. Cooper finished with 10 digs in the contest, while Bergquist added seven kills, four digs and two blocks.

 In the final game of the weekend the Tigers battle St. Mary University (Kan.). DWU easily took care of the Spires in the opening set, 25-11. But SMU answered back in the second set with a 25-22 victory. The Tigers would not be denied as they won the final two sets by a score of 26-24 and 25-20.

 Frick recorded 15 kills and five digs, Brunsing added 12 kills and Knobbe tallied 48 assists and nine digs. Cooper finished with 20 digs, while Burns notched eight digs and Bergquist chipped in eight kills.

 The Tigers open conference play against No. 7 Northwestern College at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday at the Corn Palace.