MITCHELL, S.D. – On their annual Dig Pink Match, the Dakota Wesleyan University volleyball team dropped its' Great Plains Athletic Conference battle with Doane University in four sets Saturday at the Christen Family Athletic Center in Mitchell.
Set scores were 25-16, 27-29, 32-34, 18-25.
DWU (19-9, 4-9 GPAC) cruised in the first set as they jumped out to an early 11-5 lead after a Jadie DeLange (Monument, Colo.) kill. Later in the first set, DeLange added a pair of kills to help DWU win the first set.
Doane (16-10, 7-6 GPAC) settled down in the second set as they led throughout. However, DWU regained the lead following another DeLange kill. Moments later, Bridgett Knobbe (Norfolk, Neb.) recorded a kill as DWU led, 23-20. But Doane stormed back to steal the second set and even the match.
The third set was a marathon as Doane jumped out to an early 9-2 advantage. But, DWU climbed back into the set with a pair of Mariah Gloe (Watertown, S.D.) kills. Neither team could take a clear advantage until Doane put the set away with a kill late to take a 2-1 set lead.
The Tigers of Doane used the momentum from the third set win to carry them into the fourth set. Doane never trailed as they defeated DWU.
Rebecca Frick (Yankton, S.D.) tallied 17 kills and 13 digs, while Gloe notched 14 kills and 18 digs. Knobbe chipped in 37 assists and 11 digs, as Mallory Cooper (Orchard, Neb.) finished with 31 digs.
DWU steps out of conference play to battle (RV) Dakota State University at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Christen Family Athletic Center.
