MITCHELL, S.D. – The Dakota Wesleyan University volleyball team opened the season with six wins in its first seven games, but knew a tough Great Plains Athletic Conference schedule was around the corner.
The Tigers got their first taste of GPAC action in 2015 against No. 15 Dordt College Tuesday at the Christen Family Athletic Center in Mitchell, S.D. The Defenders showed why they are ranked 15th with a strong performance in the first set, topping DWU 25-14.
The Tigers fell behind by seven points midway through the second set, but fought back to take a 22-21 lead. With all of the momentum on the Tigers' side, Dordt called a timeout to gain composure. The Defenders scored the next four points and took the 2-0 lead in the match.
Once again, the Tigers (6-2, 0-1 GPAC) pushed Dordt (8-1, 1-0 GPAC) in the third set, but the Defenders prevailed 25-19 for the GPAC-opening win.
For the eighth straight time this season, junior Lauren Tadlock (Rapid City, S.D.) led the Tigers in kills. She posted a match-high 13 to go along with six digs. Junior Dana Misiaszek (Mitchell, S.D.) added eight kills and a service ace, while junior Taylor Spence (North Branch, Minn.) chipped in with six kills and 11 digs.
The Tiger back row was led by senior Maggie Stehly (Sioux Falls, S.D.) with a team-high 19 digs. Junior Michelle Van Epps (Lakefield, Minn.) posted a team-high 20 assists along with seven digs.
The Defenders got 10 kills from Julia Lindbergh, 22 digs from Summer Jansen and 30 assists from Jamie Gesnik.
DWU heads to Colorado for four matches this weekend in a tournament hosted by Johnson & Wales University. The Tigers open the weekend against McPherson College at noon Friday in Denver.
