MITCHELL, S.D. – The Dakota Wesleyan University volleyball team wasted no time Friday evening defeating College of Saint Mary 3-0 in Great Plains Athletic Conference play at the Corn Palace in the final home match of 2020. The win not only keeps DWU in seventh place, but also secures a bid in the GPAC tournament for the first time in program history.
Set scores were 25-17, 25-17, 25-15.
The first set saw the Tigers (12-7, 8-7 GPAC) cruise to a 10-5 lead midway through the first set. Back-to-back kills by Ady Dwight (Langford, S.D.) and Mariah Gloe (Watertown, S.D.) off the assist by Madeline Else (Holstein, Iowa) fueled the quick start for DWU.
However, the Flames (7-10, 2-10 GPAC) responded pulling within two points at 12-10. Dakota Wesleyan used a 13-7 run to take a 25-17 set victory and 1-0 match lead denying any attempt at a comeback by College of Saint Mary. Late kills by both McKenzie Buisker (Watertown, S.D.) and Dwight off the assist by Else helped fuel the run.
In the second set, both teams exchanged points early on as the score was tied at 5-5. Back-to-back kills by Mackenzie Miller (Mitchell, S.D.) ignited the Tigers to an 11-6 lead midway through the frame.
With the score tied at 13-13, Dakota Wesleyan used another run to extend the match lead to 2-0 taking the second set 25-17. Kills by Jadie DeLange (Monument, Colo.) and Gloe helped the Tigers continue a four-point late in the set.
The third and final frame opened with DWU taking an early lead 6-4 off multiple kills by Miller. The set remained close until a service ace by Else forced the Flames to call a timeout trailing 13-6.
Dakota Wesleyan used a 12-9 run to close out the set securing the 3-0 match victory 25-15, ending any hopes for a comeback by College of Saint Mary. The win gives the Tigers their 12th victory of the season keeping them locked in seventh place in the GPAC standings. With just one road match remaining on the season, DWU has punched its first-ever appearance in the conference tournament.
Miller led all players with 10 kills while Dwight and Gloe combined for 17 as well. Else tallied 33 asissts while Hannah Reiff (Chester, S.D.) and Gloe led the defense with 14 and 11 digs, respectively. As a unit, the Tigers recorded 35 assists and 57 digs.
The Blue and Gray will conclude the season with a matchup versus University of Jamestown on at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday in Jamestown, N.D.
