MITCHELL, S.D. – After dropping the opening set of the night, the Dakota Wesleyan University volleyball team never looked back as they dominated the final three sets to defeat in-state rival, (RV) Dakota State University Tuesday at the Christen Family Athletic Center in Mitchell.
Set scores were 24-26, 25-9, 25-18, 25-20.
In the first set, the Trojans (16-10) took an early lead and held onto it until midway through. DWU took its' first lead of the night off a Bridgett Knobbe (Norfolk, Neb.) ace. However, DSU came back to steal the first set.
The Tigers (20-9) woke up in the second set as they cruised to a 12-4 lead, forcing a Trojan timeout. Out of the timeout, the Tigers put together a 10-2 run that was highlighted by four Rebecca Frick (Yankton, S.D.) kills. DWU put the Trojans away to even the set score.
The third set began similarly to the second as the Tigers jumped out to a 16-4 advantage. After kills by Emily Brunsing (Wagner, S.D.) and Frick that put DWU up 21-9, the Trojans went on a quick 4-0 spurt that forced a DWU timeout. DSU made it a 24-18 game, but Callie Heath (Colome, S.D.) put the game away with a kill.
DWU again held an early lead in the final set, 10-6. However, the Trojans pulled within a point following a DWU error. But Frick led a 5-1 run by the Tigers to cushion their lead. Later in the set with the Tigers leading 22-20, Frick tallied consecutive kills that put the Trojans away.
As a team, DWU finished with 45 kills, 44 assists and 68 digs. Frick led the charge with 22 kills and seven digs, while Knobbe poured in 42 assists and 10 digs. Brunsing chipped in nine kills and 2.5 total blocks, as Heath tallied eight kills and four total blocks.
DWU hits the road for a pair of games against No. 24 Midland University at 3 p.m. on Saturday in Fremont, Neb., and No. 17 Concordia University at 3 p.m. on Sunday in Seward, Neb.