Hastings, Neb. – No. 15 Dakota Wesleyan volleyball was unable to collect on the reverse sweep Friday night at Hastings, after falling behind 0-2 in the match early. Both the Tigers and Broncos were nearly even on attacking errors, serving errors, serve receive errors, and blocking errors.
The Quick Details
Score:
#15 DWU 1 – (RV) HC 3 (15-25, 16-25, 25-21, 22-25)
Records:
#15 DWU 12-4 (GPAC 4-3)
(RV) HC 16-5 (GPAC 5-2)
How it Happened
The Tigers got off to a slow start in the match as they trailed the Broncos 8-2 out of the gate. The two lone points DWU recorded at this point were both off the hands of Ady Dwight. Dakota Wesleyan and head coach Lindsay Wilber were quick to burn their first timeout of the set after the quick lead by Hastings, which proved to be beneficial as the Tigers earned a free point once play resumed on a Broncos service error. Mariah Gloe put DWU within five points, 4-9, on a kill from Madeline Else as she collected her third assist of the match. Hastings continued to command the first set over Dakota Wesleyan, holding the Tigers to hitting only .091 percent with 12 kills and eight errors, taking a 1-0 match lead over DWU.
Hastings directed the flow of the second set as well, holding Dakota Wesleyan to hitting .147 as the Broncos went on to hit .516 percent with one attacking error. The Broncos jumped out to a big 7-3 lead over the Tigers that forced a DWU timeout to regroup. DWU was able to claw back within five points, 4-9, but it wasn't enough to tie the set or take the lead. The Tiger climbed back within five points later in the set at 11-16 after Callie Slagter was able to mark a service ace on her stat sheet. Dakota Wesleyan dropped the second set 16-25 as they now trailed 0-2 in the match.
The Tigers got some rhythm in the third set, earning a good jump on the Broncos to lead 8-5. DWU had kills from Mackenzie Miller, Dwight, and Gloe through this point, while also notching a service ace from Tya Weideman. DWU's attack continued to be relentless on their attach in the third set, finding Dwight several times in a row for the kill. Hanna Reiff got in on the service ace action in the third set, giving the Tigers a 16-11 lead. Shortly after with a Miller and Emily Dale block assist, the Tigers were able to stretch their lead a little more, making it a six-point advantage. On a 23-21 lead, DWU took another timeout to try and ice the Broncos attack, which proved to be successful as the Tigers went on to avoid the sweep with a 25-21 set three win. Now, DWU still didn't hit their best in the third set, they were able to out hit Hastings .238 to .149 percent, forcing HC to commit eight errors.
The fourth and what we now know the final set of the evening was a clash between No. 15 DWU and (RV) HC. Through the first 13-points, the set was tied seven different times. DWU was first on the board with a kill from Dwight to lead 1-0. Else put the Tigers back on top at 3-2 before the Broncos knotted the set at 3-3 once again. Gloe evened the set at 4-4 on a kills before Else served up an ace putting Dakota Wesleyan back on top 5-4. Once again Gloe set the Tigers back in the lead at 7-6 on an assist by Else. Shortly after, Dale, and Miller combined for the block and the 8-7 lead. DWU then went on a 5-3 run to lead 13-10 as the three kills were from Dwight. After the 13-13 tie, neither team gained a big enough lead to be comfortable. Proceeding a 17-17 tie, the Broncos jumped ahead with a three-point run for the 17-20 lead over the Tigers. Dakota Wesleyan closed the deficit to one point at 20-21 as Dale recorded the kill after a Hastings blocking error. The Tigers attack went cold as they gained only one more kill in the match from Miller and dropping the much needed fourth set 22-25. Despite the final score of the fourth set, the Tigers out hit the Broncos .406 to .310 percent. DWU only committed one error on 14 kills and 32 total attacks, while forcing six attacking errors from the Broncos.
In the match, DWU hit .211 percent with 52 kills. Dwight led the team with 21 kills and a .348 hitting percentage. Gloe recorded the volleyball double double with 11 kills and 11 digs. Else posted 48 assists and nine digs. Reiff and Weideman also recorded double digit digs with 17 and 15, respectively.
Up Next
No. 15 Tiger volleyball continues their road trip tomorrow afternoon as they face Doane for more conference action. DWU and Doane are set for a 3 p.m. first serve from the George and Sally Haddix Recreation and Athletic Center.