DWU knocks off Concordia in five-set thriller

MITCHELL, S.D. – The Dakota Wesleyan University volleyball team outlasted conference foe Concordia University on Senior Night by a score of 3-2, as the five-set thriller in the Corn Palace came down to the wire Saturday evening.

 Set scores were 22-25, 25-18, 25-21, 15-25, 15-12.

 The first set saw both teams exchange points as the score was tied 8-8 early on thanks to kills by Ady Dwight (Langford, S.D.) and McKenzie Buisker (Watertown, S.D.). The set remained close for the rest of the way as another kill by Dwight off the assist from Madeline Else (Holstein, Iowa) forced the Bulldogs (7-3, 7-3 GPAC) to call a timeout trailing 12-15.

 Concordia eventually secured the first set by a score of 25-22 to take a 1-0 match lead, but not without a fight by the Tigers (9-6, 5-6 GPAC). Late kills by Buisker and Mackenzie Miller (Mitchell, S.D.) off the assist from Else gave DWU the momentum heading into the second frame.

 The Bulldogs cruised to a 7-4 lead early in the set, however, the Tigers responded by evening the score at 9-9. Back-to-back kills by Jadie DeLange (Monument, Colo.) and Mariah Gloe (Watertown, S.D.) granted DWU its first lead at 12-10.

 Dakota Wesleyan never looked back ending the frame on a 13-8 run evening the match at 1-1. Three straight kills by Gloe off assists from Else and Hanna Reiff (Chester, S.D.) starved off any comeback by the Bulldogs.

 The Tigers kept the momentum rolling in the third set forcing a Concordia timeout after recording four-straight points notching a 6-2 lead. Out of the break, back-to-back kills by Dwight and an attacking error by the Bulldogs extended the lead to 9-2.

 Concordia eventually responded midway through the set knotting the score at 13-13 forcing the Tigers to burn a quick timeout.

 While the score was close for the remainder of the set, the Tigers clawed out a 25-21 victory giving DWU a 2-1 match edge. A solo block by Buisker and a late kill by Gloe helped Dakota Wesleyan keep the Bulldogs at bay.

 Concordia responded in the fourth set securing an early 7-5 lead despite multiple kills by Miller. The Bulldogs pulled away midway through the frame en route to a 25-15 victory evening the match at 2-2.

 The decisive fifth set saw Dakota Wesleyan stroll to a 6-2 lead after recording four straight points. The rally was continued off a service ace by Sara Herman (Reliance, S.D.) and a kill by Dwight.

 While the Bulldogs made things interesting down the stretch evening the score at 12-12, Dakota Wesleyan powered through notching a 3-2 match victory. Another kill by Dwight placed the punctuation on a 15-12, fifth-set victory.

 The Blue and Gray attack was led by Dwight and Miller who recorded 17 and 11 kills, respectively. On the defensive front, Burns and Gloe combined for 33 digs while the Tigers totaled 66 digs and 58 assists as a team.

 DWU starts a three-game road trip which begins with a matchup versus Mount Marty at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday in Yankton, S.D.