FREMONT, Neb. – Needing a win to stay in the Great Plains Athletic Conference postseason race, the Dakota Wesleyan University volleyball team fell at the hands of No. 24 Midland University Saturday from Fremont, Neb.
Set scores were 23-25, 25-17, 17-25, 11-25.
The first set was close as the teams were tied at 13 midway through the set. The Tigers (20-10, 4-10 GPAC) held a 21-17 lead, but Midland stormed back to tie the game at 22. Eventually, the Warriors (17-9, 9-6 GPAC) took the opening set.
Callie Heath (Colome, S.D.) gave DWU a 13-10 lead in the second set. After holding a 19-17 lead, the Tigers scored the final six points to even the set score, highlighted by a Mariah Gloe (Watertown, S.D.) kill and Dannielle Burns (Raymond, Minn.) service ace.
In the third set, Midland jumped out to an 8-2 advantage. After taking a 22-9 lead, the Tigers came racing back as they tallied eight-straight points. However, the comeback fell short as the Warriors took a 2-1 set lead.
Midland downed the Tigers in the fourth set thanks to a commanding 15-5 lead early on that they never let go of.
Rebecca Frick (Yankton, S.D.) finished with 10 kills and seven digs, while Emily Brunsing (Wagner, S.D.), Heath and Gloe tallied seven kills apiece. Freshman Madeline Else (Holstein, Iowa) recorded 22 assists, as Mallory Cooper (Orchard, Neb.) added 22 digs.
The Tigers take on No. 17 Concordia University at 3 p.m. tomorrow in Seward, Neb.