Tigers sweep (RV) Briar Cliff

MITCHELL, S.D. – The Dakota Wesleyan University volleyball team swept (RV) Briar Cliff University in front of a loud and packed crowd Friday night in a Great Plains Athletic Conference tilt at the Christen Family Athletic Center.

 The raucous home crowd made an impact early to lift the Tigers (16-6, 2-6 GPAC) to a 7-3 advantage. Later in the opening set, BCU climbed back into the game and led 21-20. However, a pair of kills by Rebecca Frick (Yankton, S.D.) helped return the lead to DWU to win the set.

 The Tigers jumped out to a quick start in the second set following a Jadie DeLange (Monument, Colo.) kill that gave them a 10-7 lead. BCU made it a two-point game moments later following a kill and a service ace. But kills by DeLange and Emily Brunsing (Wagner, S.D.) lifted the Tigers to a second set victory.

 Callie Heath (Colome, S.D.) recorded a kill in the early moments of the third set to hand the Tigers a 5-3 lead. DWU began to take control of the set as Frick, Bunsing and Bridgett Knobbe (Norfolk, Neb.) tallied kills to put the Tigers up 21-12. But the Chargers (13-9, 3-5 GPAC) would not go away as they scored six-straight points.

 Leading 22-19, Frick tallied a kill that sparked life into the Tiger faithful. She concluded the match with a kill assisted by Knobbe to secure the sweep of the Chargers.

 Frick led the way with 15 kills and 11 digs, while Brunsing added nine kills and four total blocks. Knobbe finished with 33 assists and eight digs, as Heath and DeLange chipped in five kills each. Mallory Cooper (Orchard, Neb.) notched 11 digs and Mariah Gloe (Watertown, S.D.) added seven digs.

 DWU steps out of conference play as they battle Waldorf University at 7 p.m. on Oct. 11 in Forest City, Iowa.