Sioux Center, Iowa – No. 17 Dakota Wesleyan volleyball stumbled as they were unable to get in a rhythm on the road tonight in De Witt Gymnasium for the first conference game of the 2022 season. While neither team hit over .300 in the match, the Tigers were held to a .133 hitting percentage.
The Quick Details
Score:
#17 DWU 0 - #23 DU 3 (22-25, 19-25, 15-25)
Records:
#17 DWU 7-2 (GPAC 0-1)
#23 DU 8-3 (GPAC 1-0)
How It Happened
Ady Dwight and Mackenzie Miller kicked the match off for the Tigers with back-to-back kills for the 2-0 lead. The hot start quickly vanished as Dordt grabbed some early momentum to flip the score, making it 8-4 Defenders lead. DWU clawed back within one point after a service and attacking error by Dordt and a kill from Abigail Brunsing. The Tigers kept the set within reach on several kills from Dwight and some Defender ball handling errors. Dwight and Madeline Else went up for the assisted block giving DWU a 17-16 lead. DWU continued to lead till 20-18. After that lead, the Defenders shut down the Tigers offense holding them to only two more points in the opening set.
With the Defenders leading the match 1-0, the Tigers were given limited chances in the second set to get rolling. Dwight got DWU within two points right out of the gate, making it the closest DWU got to tying or having the lead. The Tigers hit .194 percent in set number two with 13 kills and six errors, making the best they hit all night. While, the Defenders tallied 15 kills on three errors for a .324 hitting percentage.
Dakota Wesleyan held the third set under control right away: trying to avoid the three-set sweep. The Tigers trailed early, but only by a point until they capitalized on back-to-back kills from Mariah Gloe and Miller, knotting the score at 6-6. Proceeding the tied set, the Defenders grabbed the lead again at 10-8, and the Tigers were unable to close the deficit as they dropped the third set 15-25.
Overall, Dwight tallied 13 kills as Miller recorded 11 kills, and Gloe notched seven. Else posted 37 assists while Hannah Reiff earned 14 digs. Dordt's leading attacker posted 12 kills and two errors in the match.
Up Next
No. 17 Tigers will open the home schedule this week, Friday, September 9, as they welcome the Chargers of Briar Cliff to campus. The Tigers and Chargers are set for a 7:30 p.m. varsity start time.