Mitchell, S.D. – The Dakota Wesleyan Tiger volleyball team grabbed a 3-1 victory in front of a packed house after dropping the first set. DWU fell in the first set 25-21, breaking a 12 straight set wins streak, but responded winning the next three. The Tigers were led by recently named GPAC Attacker-of-the-Week Ady Dwight who tied a career high in kills with her 25 on 45 attempts and just one error. Kayleigh Hybertson was doing it all with her 47 assists, career-high 17 digs, and three aces. Tya Weideman led with 29 digs and Elizabeth Tyler had her third double-double of the season with 11 kills and 10 digs. DWU improved to 11-7 (2-1 GPAC) while MOR dropped to 8-9 (2-2 GPAC).
The Quick Details vs. Morningside
Score:
(RV) DWU 3 – MOR 1 (21-25, 25-17, 25-20, 25-23)
Records:
(RV) DWU 11-7 (2-1 GPAC)
MOR 8-9 (2-2 GPAC)
Recap
With the CAC rocking with the packed 615 fans in attendance DWU looked ready to roll jumping out to a 3-0 lead getting two kills from Ady Dwight who always knows how to get a crowd going with her punishing attacks. Morningside responded though to tie the game up at six. The Mustangs got multiple points off DWU errors during the stretch with three alone coming from the service line. The Tigers responded with a 7-2 run to grab their biggest lead of the set at 13-8 drawing a MOR timeout. This was a well-used timeout as it was the Mustangs who went on a 5-0 run to tie it back up at 13 and drawing a timeout from a frustrated Wilber. Out of the timeout Morningside got a service ace, giving them a 14-13 lead. Both squads went point for point leaving it at 20-20. The Mustangs dialed it up and closed out the Tigers 5-1 to take set one 25-21.
In set two again DWU grabbed an early 3-0 lead to get the crowd and momentum back on their side. Like in set one though the Mustangs didn't let the Tigers run away with it and closed the Tiger lead to one at 5-4. Time and time again freshman setter looked to the veteran Dwight to come up with the kill and get the ball back on the DWU side and time and time again Dwight delivered. Dakota Wesleyan regained a five-point lead at 12-7 drawing another MOR timeout. This timeout didn't slow down the Tigers as they only grew on that five-point lead throughout the set and eventually closing out the Mustangs 25-17 and tying it up one set apiece. To this point Dwight had collected 12 kills followed by Elizabeth Tyler and Abigail Brunsing with five each.
Set three had the Mustangs with an early 3-1 lead. That lead wouldn't last as DWU went on a 8-2 run, igniting the Dakota Wesleyan faithful in attendance and giving the Tigers a 9-5 lead. Like most GPAC matches though, it is always going to be a battle and never easy as the Mustangs responded to tie the game at 15. Both teams went back and forth keeping it knotted up at 18. Tied at 18, Hybertson set Dwight who delivered a crushing attack that got the CAC rocking and rolling. Dakota Wesleyan rolled with this momentum and closed the Mustangs out 7-2 for a 25-20 set three win. The Tiger defense amped up the intensity in the set led by Tya Weideman, Callie Slagter, Carlee Laubach, and Tyler. The Mustangs also started to target Hybertson on their attacks to throw off the Tigers rhythm on offense. DWU was ready for the assignment with Hybertson already hitting a career-high in digs with 15 and Weideman with four set assists.
Set four was all Dwight! The All-American had no plans of playing a set five when she went off for seven kills on only 11 attempts in the set alone. Weideman in the back row also had zero plans of allowing any kind of Mustang comeback with her 10 digs in the set. Weideman was all over the place and seemed to be in the right place at the right time no matter what the attack attempt was. Dakota Wesleyan jumped out to a 5-0 lead drawing a Mustangs timeout. The highlight point in the run was when Laubach attempted a back row attack and put the ball away resulting in just her third kill of the season as a defensive specialist. With the big individual efforts from the Tigers in the set the Mustangs didn't go away easy. The set had a handful of ties and lead changes and even a late 19-16 Morningside lead. Dakota Wesleyan responded with a 4-0 run to tie it at 20. With the game at 24-23, and the Mustangs threatening to take it to extra points, Hybertson set who else but the All-American who with a thunderous attack put an exclamation point on the match to take the match 3-1.
Head-to-Head (Morningside)
- The Tigers are 5-0 in the last five matchups with the Mustangs.
- DWU is 15-1 in set play during that span.
Up Next
The Tigers take a week off before returning to the court to face No. 16 Jamestown in the CAC. Match is set for 7:30 PM Friday, September 22.
