Tigers split in final day of Corn Palace Classic

MITCHELL, S.D. – In the final day of the Corn Palace Classic, the Dakota Wesleyan University volleyball team went 1-1 falling to Clarke University, while defeating in-state foe Dakota State University in the night-cap of the tournament in Mitchell.

 Set scores against Clarke were 13-25, 17-25 and 28-30, while the set scores against DSU were 25-18, 21-25, 25-16 and 25-16.

 In the first game, Clarke was difficult to slow down as they finished with a .314 hitting percentage. They took the early lead in the first set and never looked back as they hit past the DWU defense. The second set saw much of the same, but as the third set rolled on, the Tigers began to claw their way back into the game. The third set was a back-and-forth affair that saw Clarke pull away at the end to down the Tiger comeback.

 Rebecca Frick (Yankton, S.D.) led the offensive charge with 16 kills and a .382 hitting percentage, while Bridgett Knobbe (Norfolk, Neb.) tallied 24 and six digs assists for the Tigers.

 In the second game, DWU found their rhythm early and continued the momentum throughout the game. The Tigers took the first set after hitting .457. The second set belonged to the Trojans as they pulled away late. However, the third and fourth sets were owned by DWU as they won 25-16 in each set.

 Frick finished with 15 kills and 17 digs, while Knobbe added 43 assists and eight digs. Sophomore Sydney Fritz (Winner, S.D.) tallied 10 kills to go along with her .474 hitting percentage. Darby Duncan (Mellette, S.D.) added 22 digs and Mallory Cooper (Orchard, Neb.) pitched in 14 digs for the Tigers.

 DWU (6-3) opens up conference play against Mount Marty College at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday in Yankton, S.D.