OMAHA, Neb. – The Dakota Wesleyan University volleyball team is turning a corner and this weekend marked a big step, as the Tigers remained perfect on the season after two wins at a triangular Saturday in Omaha, Neb.
After picking up a decisive win over Presentation College at home to open the season earlier in the week, DWU headed south for two games at Grace University. The Tigers (3-0) picked up a pair of wins, sweeping Central Christian College of McPherson in the opener and topping the host Royals in four games.
Against CCC, the Tigers were strong at the net, with a .269 kill percentage and 12 total block assists. DWU won its first match of the day 25-17, 27-25 and 25-17. Against the home team, DWU took the first two games in convincing fashion 25-17 and 25-20. Grace came back to capture the third game 25-22, but DWU stood tall to close the match with a 25-16 performance in the fourth game.
Junior Lauren Tadlock (Rapid City, S.D.) led the Tigers in kills in both games with 15 in each after pacing the team in the season opener earlier in the week. She added 14 digs and four block assists total in the two matches on Saturday.
Dana Misiaszek (Mitchell, S.D.) had a breakout game against Grace, with a season-high 14 kills. The junior added seven kills in the opening match and 12 digs and five block assists on the day. Redshirt junior Sammy Fluck (Becker, Minn.) continued her strong play in the early season with 17 kills and six total blocks in the two matches. Junior Taylor Spence (North Branch, Minn.) racked up 10 kills and 10 digs against CCC, while tallying eight kills and a team-high 17 digs against Grace.
The Tigers continued to show off their two-setter formation with juniors Michelle Van Epps (Lakefield, Minn.) and Emily Pengilly (Watertown, S.D.) organizing the DWU offense. Van Epps led the Tigers with 32 assists against Grace and another 27 against CCC. Pengilly totaled 31 on the day, while Van Epps racked up 25 total digs. Senior Maggie Stehly (Sioux Falls, S.D.) chipped in with 12 digs in each match.
The Tigers will take the early part of the week off before hosting the Corn Palace Classic on Friday and Saturday in Mitchell, S.D. DWU opens its portion of the event against Presentation at 10:30 a.m. on Friday.