Sioux City, Iowa – No. 10 Dakota Wesleyan volleyball pushes their win streak to seven and remains unblemished in the month of October after the gritty four-set win on the road at Briar Cliff.
The Quick Details
Score:
#10 DWU 3 – BCU 1 (25-18, 25-14, 23-25, 26-24)
Records:
#10 DWU 19-4 (GPAC 9-3)
BCU 6-19 (GPAC 1-12)
How It Happened
The Tigers got off to another hot start in tonights midweek match from Sioux City, Iowa, jumping all over the Briar Cliff Chargers early, 6-1 as Ady Dwight picked up where she left off from last weekend. DWU held the BCU attack at bay as the Tigers continued to extend their lead to 15-9 with the help of Mackenzie Miller and Mariah Gloe. BCU got the serve back after a service error from Tya Weideman but was short lived as the Chargers posted an attacking error, giving DWU an eight-point lead again, 18-10. As Dakota Wesleyan needed one more point to win the set, Briar Cliff went on a four-point run, closing the margin to 24-18 before Abigail Brunsing went up for the solo block earning the Tigers set point, 25-18.
Briar Cliff got rolling fast in the second set, grabbing a 6-4 lead over Dakota Wesleyan early. It didn't take long for the Tigers to get back on track and flip the score into a four-point advantage at 16-12. DWU continued to be dominate after that, leading BCU 19-13 before BCU called for a timeout. The Chargers got their final point of the set immediately after play resumed, but DWU strung together a six-point run as Madeline Else was able to serve out the set, handing the Tigers a 25-14 set two win and a 2-0 match lead.
The third set started in favor of the Tigers, getting an 8-3 lead after kills from Dwight and Emily Dale while the Chargers added to the DWU lead on attacking and blocking errors. After a time out from the BCU bench, they began to slowly close the score, climbing within two points of the lead, 10-8. The Tigers continued to lead, through 15-12, until the Chargers ran into a one-point lead at 16-15. From this point on it was back and forth as the Tigers tied the set and took a one-point lead; followed by BCU tying the set and taking a one-point lead. As Dakota Wesleyan led by one point at 23-22, Briar Cliff called a timeout. Once play resumed the Chargers tied the set then took a 24-23 lead forcing a timeout from head coach Lindsay Wilber. BCU grabbed the third set win 25-23 forcing a fourth set.
The fourth set was a grind as DWU was looking to end the match and BCU was looking to push it to a fifth set. The Chargers held the Tigers in check all set, only letting them lead by a few points before pulling them back even to tie the score. It wasn't until Mariah Gloe gave the Tigers their first lead over two points at 18-15. This small three-point lead, set the Briar Cliff bench into their first timeout of the set as they looked to shut down the DWU run before it got to big. BCU continued to play DWU close after that, climbing back within one point, 20-19. Dakota Wesleyan then was able to push their lead four points for their largest lead of the set at 23-19. BCU wasn't about to let this set slip away as they battled back to a one-point deficit after a Charger kill and two DWU attacking errors, 23-22. This forced a timeout from the Tigers to regroup, while it also game BCU time to strategize and knot the set at 23-23. Miller set DWU back on top by one point 24-23 in a win by two set. The Chargers once again knotted the score at 24-24, but the Tigers were able to capitalize on the free point from BCU before setting Dwight up for the match point to win 3-1 overall.
Overall, the Tigers hit their best in the second set, setting down 13 kills on 31 attempts for a .323 hitting percentage. Dwight led the team once again in kills and hitting percentage with 23 kills and a .373 hitting percentage. Miller added 15 kills to the board, while Dale and Gloe chipped in with nine and seven kills, respectively. Dwight and Dale also led the team in total blocks with three each. Else recorded 52 assists while Hanna Reiff notched 23 digs.
Up Next
No. 10 Dakota Wesleyan volleyball returns home for another top-25 match up on Friday when they welcome No. 19 Dordt into the jungle of the Christen Family Athletic Center for a 7:30 p.m. varsity match.