Madison, S.D. – For the third straight matchup Dakota Wesleyan volleyball earned a five-set win against the Trojans. The Tigers stuffed the stat sheet in this one with Ady Dwight being just shy of her career-high with 23 kills followed by Abigail Brunsing with a career-high 19. Elizabeth Tyler posted her first career double-double, Tya Weideman shattered her career-high of 21 digs with 37, and Kayleigh Hybertson set a new mark of 63 assists which is one more than last year's All-American setter Madeline Else career-high (62). The Tigers improved to 5-4 on the season while the Trojans dropped to 3-3.
The Quick Details vs. Dakota State
Score:
No.13 DWU 3 – DSU 2 (21-25, 25-19, 25-23, 22-25, 15-12)
Records:
No. 13 DWU 5-4
DSU 3-3
Recap
The Dakota Wesleyan Tigers needed a group effort and got just that to edge the Trojans in a five-set thriller. DWU dropped set one 25-21. The Tigers found themselves in a 14-7 hole drawing a timeout from head coach Lindsay Wilber to talk things over and calm down the packed DSU Fieldhouse. Dakota Wesleyan clawed their way back to make it a four-point game late in the set. The early Trojan lead was too great for the Tigers to overcome late though resulting in DSU to grab set one 25-21. Though the Tigers lost the set, All-American Ady Dwight showed up big with six kills on 10 swings, foreshadowing the continued dominance to come.
In set two it was the Tigers this time flipping the script and jumping out to an early 11-6 lead. It was Abigail Brunsing this time that stepped up in a big way for the Tigers, punishing the Trojan defense with four kills during the run and all four coming in a row. Brunsing brought the offense and energy to breathe life back in the DWU squad. DSU responded with a little run of their own to narrow the gap to 11-9. Dakota Wesleyan regained their five-point lead thanks to freshman setter Kayleigh Hybertson commanding the floor and keeping the Trojan defense off-balanced with sets to Dwight, Brunsing, and Emily Dale during the stretch. Tya Weideman amped up the intensity on the defensive side, frustrating the Trojan attackers acting as a black hole for every attack attempt on her way to 21 digs in the first two sets alone. Dakota Wesleyan road out this momentum on the way to a 25-19 set two win.
That momentum showed no sign of slowing down to start the third set with DWU claiming an early 8-3 lead. Dwight and Brunsing continued to carry the load, being responsible for six of the eight points during the run. You knew with how this matchup goes that DSU wouldn't just go away. The Trojans answered with a big 10-2 run to claim a 13-10 lead and draw another DWU timeout. The timeout was well spent calming them down and refocused on their way to a 10-2 run of their own. Hybertson kept going back to the vet in Dwight who fueled the big run and continued to be trouble for the Trojans. Elizabeth Tyler was doing it all for the Tigers providing a solid option for Hybertson at the net and making big plays in the back row defensively. Weideman continued to provide a spark making diving play after diving play and big dig after big dig to keep the rallies alive. DSU burned a timeout with the score at 20-15 to slow down the Tigers pace of play and try and mount a comeback. This timeout was well used with them mounting a 5-1 run to narrow the DWU lead to one at 21-20. DWU being the gritty squad they are pulled it out and made the plays when they needed to on their way to a tight 25-23 big set three win.
Trojans earned a 25-22 set four win to tie it at 2-2, forcing a fifth set showdown for a third straight matchup between the two teams. DSU trailed early in the set but responded with a 6-0 rally halfway through the set to grab a 14-10 lead, a lead they never gave up. With it tied at two sets apiece the stage was set for a dramatic finish like it always is for these two teams when they face off. With a packed gym, emotions high, and nerves starting to kick in everyone was ready for a back and forth tight fifth set.
Well, the Tigers early on looked like they weren't going to allow that with their 9-3 lead in a first to 15 match. Dwight, Brunsing, and Tyler were going right at the Trojans offensively and DSU looked to have no answer. Well, Dakota State totally flipped the momentum back to the DSU side and lit the packed gym back on fire with a big 8-0 run. Now leading 12-9 over the Tigers it was DWU this time who looked to have no answer. DSU was back to serve with the three-point cushion and looking to pull away and close it out when the serve went just long giving the Tigers the point and stopping the run. The game of runs continued with DWU closing the Trojans out on a 6-0 run on their way to a 15-12 set five win and 3-2 match win. The pressure seemed to get to the Trojans with four of the six points coming on DSU errors. Dale stepped up late for her team by providing a key kill and assisting with Dwight on a block to put a finishing stamp on the game.
Head-to-Head (Dakota State)
- The Tigers are 11-7 against the Trojans (2013-Pres.)
- DWU has won 10 of the last 12 matchups.
Up Next
No. 13 Dakota Wesleyan Tigers go back on the road for the GoSarpy.com tournament September 1 and 2. DWU will play Grand View, Our Lady of the Lake, Benedictine, and Ottawa during the two day tournament