ORANGE CITY, Iowa – After dropping a five-set thriller on Wednesday night, the Dakota Wesleyan University volleyball team picked up its first win of the season on at the Red Raider Classic on Friday in Orange City, Iowa.
The Tigers got off to a quick start, taking their first match of the day against Mayville State University. Set scores were 25-18, 23-25, 25-20 and 31-29.
In set one, DWU trailed for much of the set, however a few errors by the Comets proved to be costly as the Tigers rallied for five straight points. Rebecca Frick (Yankton, S.D.) and Emily Brunsing (Wagner, S.D.) capped off the Tiger scoring drive with two kills each.
DWU also trailed in set two, but a four-point rally wasn't enough to hold off the Comets. In set three, DWU scampered to a 9-3 lead and was able to put the set away in a hurry after four straight points to end the stanza.
The Tigers answered with four straight points in set four, but Mayville State was able to answer point-for-point to tie the set at 12. The Comets converted seven points in back-to-back fashion, however DWU tallied five straight points, thanks to two Mayville State errors and kills by Chelsey Heeg (Freeman, S.D.) and Brunsing.
DWU and the Comets ultimately tied at 25 in the fourth set, but back-to-back blocks proved to be enough as the Tigers rattled off three points to take the finale.
Frick tallied a double-double with 21 kills and 18 digs, while Sydney Fritz (Winner, S.D.) added 10 kills. Freshman setter Bridgett Knobbe (Norfolk, Neb.) recorded 47 assists, 17 digs and three block assists for her second game in a Tiger uniform, while Mallory Cooper (Orchard, Neb.) tallied 18 digs.
In the final match of the day, DWU squared off with No. 9 Corban University from Salem, Oregon. The young Tiger squad was unable to hold off the Warriors as set scores were 25-13, 25-12 and 25-12.
Frick tallied six kills, while Knobbe had 19 assists.
The Tigers (1-2) are back in action in the Red Raider Classic, taking on Valley City State University at 11 a.m. and Waldorf University at 1 p.m. in Orange City.