MITCHELL, S.D. – The Dakota Wesleyan University volleyball team picked up its second Great Plains Athletic Conference win of the season, reaching the 10-victory mark for the first time since 2010 Wednesday at the Christen Family Athletic Center in Mitchell, S.D.
The Tigers needed five games, but prevailed over instate rival Mount Marty College to move to 10-8 overall and 2-4 in the GPAC. The line score was 25-13, 24-26, 25-22, 20-25, 15-11. The win gave the Tigers two in conference play for the first time since 2012.
The match started out all DWU, with the Tigers winning the final eight points of the first game as junior setter Emily Pengilly (Watertown, S.D.) served the last seven points to put DWU up 1-0. The Tigers squandered a game-point in the second and the Lancers evened the match.
With the score tied at 16 in the third, DWU won six of the next seven points to pull away and the Tigers held on to regain a one-game advantage. The Lancers responded once again with a win in the fourth to force a decisive fifth game.
The teams traded points and were tied at 10 before DWU took control. The Tigers scored five of the last six points, with junior Lauren Tadlock (Rapid City, S.D.) putting the match away with her final kill of the evening.
Tadlock led the Tigers with 16 kills and 15 digs for a double-double, while adding three block assists. Junior Taylor Spence (North Branch, Minn.) also had a double-double, finishing with 11 kills and 16 digs. Junior Dana Misiaszek (Mitchell, S.D.) had 13 kills and 2.5 total blocks, while junior Sammy Fluck (Becker, Minn.) added 10 kills and five total blocks.
The DWU offense was set in motion by junior Michelle Van Epps (Lakefield, Minn.) with 50 assists, while senior Maggie Stehly (Sioux Falls, S.D.) posted a team-high 28 digs. Van Epps added 15 digs, while Pengilly finished with 14.
The Tigers continue GPAC play against No. 25 Doane College at 5 p.m. Saturday in Crete, Neb.
