Tigers rally past Trojans in straight sets

MADISON, S.D. – With the score tied at 23 in the third set, the Dakota Wesleyan University volleyball team and Dakota State University traded rounds for eight-straight points. However, DWU came away victorious in the three-set thriller over DSU in non-conference action on Tuesday in Madison, S.D.

 Set scores were 25-23, 25-12, 33-31.

 DWU took command early in the opening set as Bridgett Knobbe (Norfolk, Neb.) found Brittany Bergquist (Wolsey, S.D.) for the kill to put the Tigers up 8-3, forcing a DSU timeout.

 Coming out of the timeout, the Trojans (5-6) found life as they scored seven-straight points to tie the game. DSU continued its' hot streak as they later took a 17-14 lead and the Tigers took a timeout.

 DWU came out of its' own timeout on fire, scoring four-consecutive points to take an 18-17 lead following a Bergquist kill. DSU went on another run to take a 22-20 lead. However, the Tigers scored five of the last six points to rally and take the first set.

 The Tigers (11-3) rode the confidence of the first set into the second as they cruised to a 10-3 lead thanks to a Jadie DeLange (Monument, Colo.) kill. Later in the set, Mallory Cooper (Orchard, Neb.) passed the ball to DeLange who tallied another kill to push the Tigers to another set victory.

 The third set was as close as could be as neither team led by more than three points, which was DSU leading 22-19. But the Tigers held tough as Rebecca Frick (Yankton, S.D.) recorded a kill, followed by a Trojan error to pull DWU within a point.

 The Tigers faced multiple set points down the stretch, but kills by DeLange, Frick and Bergquist kept DWU in the contest. Consecutive errors by the Trojans with the score tied at 31 gave the third set to the Tigers.

 Frick led the charge with 22 digs and 13 kills, while Bergquist tallied 11 kills and three blocks. Knobbe added 32 assists and 12 digs, as Cooper notched 15 digs and DeLange chipped in five kills, five digs and 1.5 blocks.

 The Tigers return home to take on Mount Marty College at 7:30 p.m. tomorrow at the Corn Palace.