Tigers overpower Midland for GPAC victory

MITCHELL, S.D. – After falling in the opening set, the Dakota Wesleyan University volleyball team regrouped to defeat Midland University in the final three sets for the thrilling Great Plains Athletic Conference victory on Wednesday at the Corn Palace.

 Set scores were 16-25, 25-22, 25-23, 26-24.

 The Warriors (2-5, 1-4 GPAC) jumped out to a quick 12-7 lead in the beginning of the match. After a kill by Mackenzie Miller (Mitchell, S.D.), Midland went off for five straight points to take a 17-8 advantage.

 Jadie DeLange (Monument, Colo.) tried to give life to DWU with a kill, but the Warriors fended off any comeback attempt to take the opening set.

 The Tigers (7-4, 4-4 GPAC) responded in the following frame thanks to a Mariah Gloe (Watertown, S.D.) kill followed by a Miller kill to jump out to a quick lead.

 After Midland pulled within two points moments later, DeLange reeled off consecutive kills, while freshman Ady Dwight (Langford, S.D.) joined the action with a kill of her own to push the lead to five points.

 The Warriors rallied to take a momentary lead at 20-19. However, the lead did not last long as Madeline Else (Holstein, Iowa) found Miller and Dwight for kills to help push DWU onto victory in the second set.

 Midland bounced back to grab a 7-4 lead in the opening moments of the third frame. The Warriors held DWU at a distance throughout the set as the Tigers were unable to pull ahead. But with the score tied at 21, Else and Gloe connected for a kill to put the Tigers ahead by a point. DWU never looked back as Miller notched a pair of kills to help the Tigers put the set away.

 The Warriors looked to respond in the fourth set after starting quickly again. However, the Tigers responded with a run and a Dwight kill to take a 12-11 advantage.

 A plethora of Midland errors opened the door for DWU to grab a 16-13 lead midway through the fourth set. But the Warriors ended their drought of errors and capitalized to regain a 24-22 late lead.

 A block assist by Miller and McKenzie Buisker (Watertown, S.D.) gave new life to the Tigers. After a Midland error tied the set at 24, Else dug a ball that sailed over the net and landed in to hand the lead to DWU. DeLange finished off the night with a thunderous kill to complete the win for DWU.

 As a team, the Tigers finished with 14 blocks and 43 kills. Buisker led the team with six block assists, while Miller led the offense with 12 kills. Else tallied 35 assists and 16 digs, as Gloe notched 14 digs and six kills.

 The Tigers return to the court against the University of Jamestown at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Corn Palace.