Mitchell, S.D. – No. 9 Dakota Wesleyan University volleyball honors their five seniors in Mackenzie Miller, Mariah Gloe, Madeline Else, Dannielle Burns, and Hanna Reiff with a quick three set win, lasting only an hour and 14-minutes.
The Quick Details
Score:
#9 DWU 3 – MOR 0 (25-18, 25-16, 25-19)
Records:
#9 DWU 21-5 (GPAC 11-4)
MOR 10-20 (GPAC 4-11)
How It Happened
Morningside jumped out quick in Fosness Arena over No. 9 Dakota Wesleyan on senior day, grabbing the 3-0 lead after a Tiger service error to start the set and a pair of kills. While the early lead was short lived by the unranked Mustangs, they continued to hang with the No. 9 Tigers, tying the score multiple times till 9-9. Dakota Wesleyan turned the corner after that point, pushing their lead to six points after multiple attacking errors by Morningside and three service aces from the senior setter, Else. Once DWU secured the lead, they continued holding a six- or seven-point lead after that. DWU was distrusting the attack towards the end of the opening set as Emily Dale, Gloe, and Ady Dwight were getting the kills and giving the Tigers the opening set win 25-18 and the 1-0 match lead.
Dakota Wesleyan started the second set leaving Morningside behind after a commanding 13-5 lead. The Mustangs started to make a small come back with a three-point run closing the margin to 13-8, but DWU continued to hold strong and play well at home as Miller and Dwight each recorded kills followed by Callie Slagter notching a service ace and an assisted block from Else and Dwight to lead by nine, 18-9. The Mustangs continued their attempts in closing the scoring margin, but the Tigers were finding the hardwood as several players notched kills: while forcing more Morningside attacking errors. With only one timeout taken in the second set, it was a quick one as the Tigers grabbed the 25-16 set win in no time.
Dakota Wesleyan was looking to finish the match off quick, and that's what they did once the third set got underway. The Tigers once again jumped out quick on the Mustangs 10-6, then 13-9 as Morningside called for a timeout in hopes to stop the DWU run. It proved not to help as Dakota Wesleyan went on to put up three more points, extending their lead to 16-9. Morningside made a small push again late in the set for an attempt to take the lead, putting up four points to trail by three, 17-14. Dwight put the Tigers back on track, starting the six-point run to give DWU a nine-point lead, 23-14. Morningside made one last push in the match, closing the margin to five points, 24-19, but it was the Tigers who secured the straight set win and their eighth overall win at home this season.
Overall, the Tigers outhit the Mustangs, .235 percent to .065 percent in the three sets. DWU hit their best in the final set, but not by much, putting up 14 kills and only having four errors for a .244 hitting percentage. The three-set match only took an hour and 14-minutes total to complete, with Dwight recording 20 kills and hitting .368 percent. Miller notched nine kills while Dale and Gloe each chipped in with six kills. Else had herself a senior day, stuffing her stat sheet with a pair of kills, 42 assists, three service aces, five digs, and two blocks. Hanna Reiff was strong defensively, with 16 digs. Reiff also posted one service ace and one assist in the match. Tya Weideman grabbed one service ace and ten digs in the match.
Up Next
No. 9 Dakota Wesleyan volleyball is back in action for the final regular season match of 2022 at home on Tuesday, November 1. Wrapping up the regular season, it will be another tough bout as the Tigers host the second ranked team in the nation the University of Jamestown. No. 9 Tigers and No. 2 Jimmies will get under way at 7:30 p.m. from the Christen Family Athletic Center and Fosness Arena, closing the books on the 2022 regular season.