TIGERS WIN NINTH STRAIGHT AGAINST CHARGERS IN STRAIGHT SETS ON SENIOR NIGHT

Mitchell, S.D. – The Dakota Wesleyan Tigers got back in the win column after a two-game skid with their straight set victory over Briar Cliff. This marked the ninth straight win against the Chargers. It was a bittersweet night for the Tiger squad as seniors Ady Dwight, Tya Weideman, Hailey Bleeker, and Haley Hesse took the court for the last time in the CAC. Dwight recorded another 20-kill performance which put her over 500 kills on the season for a second straight season and Weideman had a game-high 18 digs. Kayleigh Hybertson had her team leading eighth double-double of the season with her 41 assists and 10 digs. The 41 assists were the most Hybertson has had in a three-set match on the season. The Tigers improved to 18-13 (7-7 GPAC) while the Chargers dropped to 7-21 (2-12 GPAC).

The Quick Details vs. Briar Cliff

Score:

DWU 3 – BCU 0 (25-22 25-22, 25-16)

Records

DWU 18-13 (7-7 GPAC)

BCU 7-21 (2-12 GPAC)  

Recap

The Tigers came out sluggish to open the match, facing an early 5-0 hole drawing a Wilber timeout to collect and center her squad. DWU slowly chipped away at that Charger five-point lead before they went on a 4-0 run to tie it at 11 all and force BCU to take their first timeout of the match. As usual Hybertson went to Dwight for a lot of the production on offense but also got some contributions from Abigail Brunsing, Elizabeth Tyler, and Logan Bly. A couple points later in the set the Tigers put a little distance between them and the Chargers with a 5-0 run that was all BCU errors (four attack and one service). Briar Cliff got a couple key kills and an ace to close within one point of the Tigers, but a big block from Emily Dale and Bly followed by a thundering kill from Dwight put an exclamation point on the match for a 25-22 set one win. The senior, Weideman was all over the place in the back row recording nine digs in the set alone.

In set two it was a back-and-forth contest with each side trading kill for kill and error for error for an 8-7 DWU lead. The Tigers, like in set one, put a little distance between the Chargers when BCU recorded three straight errors to give DWU a four-point lead. The Chargers threatened the Tigers lead but were never able to grab a lead of their own during the second set for a 25-22 Dakota Wesleyan set two win. Dwight dominated set two with seven kills on 12 attempts.

With a 2-0 set lead the Tigers showed no sign of slowing down in set three, jumping out to a 7-3 lead. During that stretch it was an attack by committee with four different Tigers recording kills. DWU kept the throttle down, only growing on that lead and leading by as much as 12 at 21-9 which was their biggest lead of the match. The Chargers pushed back a little at the end but ultimately were closed out for a 25-16 match win. Dakota Wesleyan had their most efficient set-in set three with their .325 attack percentage compared to the Chargers .143. DWU was active again in the back row with four players recording double-digit digs led by Weideman with 18 followed by Tyler with 15, Callie Slagter with 13 and then Hybertson with 10. Dwight had 21.5 points in the contest which was her second most in a three-set match on the season (vs. Mobile August 18).

Up Next

The Tigers hit the road for a road matchup against Dordt University Saturday, October 28 with first serve set for 5 p.m.