MITCHELL, S.D. – The Dakota Wesleyan University volleyball could not string points together in the first two sets and a rally late was not enough in a four-set loss to the Nebraska Wesleyan University in a Great Plains Athletic Conference matchup Saturday at the Christen Family Wellness Center in Mitchell, S.D.
The Tigers dropped the first two sets, but came back to take the third on the right arm of junior Dana Misiaszek (Mitchell, S.D.). A close fourth set went to extra points with the Prairie Wolves coming out on top. The line score was 25-18, 25-21, 19-25, 26-24.
The loss, which hampers the GPAC postseason hopes of DWU, drops the Tigers to 11-16 overall and 2-11 in the conference. The win was the first in GPAC play for NWU in 2015, the last season for the program in the conference.
Misiaszek had a strong night, changing the game each time she came onto the court. The outside hitter posted a career-high 17 kills, while committing just three hitting errors. She added two block assists in the loss.
Five Tigers finished with double-digit digs led by senior Libero Maggie Stehly (Sioux Falls, S.D.) with 20. She is just five behind Pam Horner for fourth on the DWU all-time digs list 1,564 in her career. Junior Taylor Spence added 15 digs to go along with her five kills, while junior Lauren Tadlock (Rapid City, S.D.) chipped in with eight kills and 12 digs.
Both junior setters for DWU had a double-double with Michelle Van Epps (Lakefield, Minn.) finishing with 23 assists and 12 digs, while Emily Pengilly (Watertown, S.D.) chipped in with 13 assists and 11 digs.
DWU had trouble with the NWU serve, committing 13 receive errors as a team.
DWU plays nonconfernce rival Dakota State Unversity at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in Madison, S.D. The Tigers close out the home portion of the 2015 season against No. 12 Northwestern College at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday.