Tigers pick up crucial GPAC win over Hastings

MITCHELL, S.D. – For the first time since 1995, the Dakota Wesleyan University volleyball team recorded its' 19^th victory of the season in a Great Plains Athletic Conference matchup with Hastings College on Friday night at the Christen Family Athletic Center in Mitchell.

 Set scores were 25-22, 22-25, 25-13, 28-26.

 The Broncos (9-13, 4-8 GPAC) jumped out to an early 7-2 lead in the first set to force a DWU timeout. However, the Tigers (19-8, 4-8 GPAC) responded out of the timeout with an 8-0 run to hold an 11-7 lead after a Bridgett Knobbe (Norfolk, Neb.) service ace. Hastings tied the game at 17 later, but DWU held on for the opening set win.

 Neither team held a clear advantage in the second set as the score remained tied at 11 midway through. The Broncos opened a 20-15 advantage moments later that forced a DWU timeout. The Tigers stormed back to pull within a point following a Callie Heath (Colome, S.D.) and Chaydon Metzger (Larchwood, Iowa) block. But Hastings fended off the Tigers to even the game at one set apiece.

 DWU came marching out in the third set as they jumped out to a 6-1 lead, making Hastings call a timeout. After the Broncos climbed within four points, the Tigers went on a 5-0 spurt that was finished off with a Jadie DeLange (Monument, Colo.) kill. DWU cruised to a third-set win after Rebecca Frick (Yankton, S.D.) and Emily Brunsing (Wagner, S.D.) recorded kills down the stretch.

 The fourth set was back and forth, but opened with DWU leading, 12-7. The Broncos strung together a 9-2 run to hold a 16-14 lead. But the Tigers answered with a 5-0 run of their own to regain the lead, 19-16. Moments later, Frick recorded a kill to tie the game at 21.

 Two points later, Heath smacked the ball over the net through the Hastings defense for a kill to give the Tigers the lead. Both teams traded points until Frick was able to seal the victory with a kill.

 Frick finished with 23 kills and 15 digs, while Mallory Cooper (Orchard, Neb.) tallied 20 digs. DeLange and Brunsing combined for 20 kills, as Madeline Else (Holstein, Iowa) notched a season-high 30 assists along with five digs.

 The Tigers try to stay in GPAC postseason contention as the battle Doane University at 5 p.m. tomorrow for the Dig Pink Match at the Christen Family Athletic Center.