DWU falls to No. 12 Defenders in conference play

MITCHELL, S.D. – The Dakota Wesleyan University volleyball team took on No. 12 Dordt College in a Great Plains Athletic Conference battle, and fell to the Defenders in three sets Saturday at the Corn Palace.

 In the first set the Tigers (11-4, 1-3 GPAC) trailed 19-11, but clawed their way back into the game after a kill by Sydney Fritz (Winner, S.D.) cut the deficit to 21-15. However, the Defenders (9-2, 3-0 GPAC) took the opening set from DWU, 25-17.

 The Tigers jumped out to an early lead in the second set, taking a 5-4 lead thanks to a Dordt error. After trailing 10-7 later in the set, DWU rallied and tied the game at 10. The Tigers kept pace with Dordt down the stretch, but it was not enough as DWU fell, 25-20 in the second set and 25-13 in the third set of the day.

 Leading the charge for the Tigers was Rebecca Frick (Yankton, S.D.) who tallied 13 digs and nine kills, while Sara Herman (Reliance, S.D.) added 12 digs. Bridgett Knobbe (Norfolk, Neb.) finished with 18 assists, seven digs and two kills, as Emily Brunsing (Wagner, S.D.) notched five kills.

 DWU takes on No. 16 Northwestern College in a GPAC matchup at 7:30 p.m. Thursday in Orange City, Iowa.