September 29, 2023

TIGERS FALL 3-1 TO BRONCOS DESPITE CONVINCING 25-18 SET ONE WIN

Hastings

8-8, 3-4

(RV) Dakota Wesleyan

12-10, 3-4

Final

Hastings 8-8, 3-4

(RV) Dakota Wesleyan 12-10, 3-4

Mitchell, S.D. – Dakota Wesleyan volleyball dropped their home matchup against the Hastings Broncos 3-1, despite taking the first set with a dominant 25-18 score. The Tigers had no answer for Broncos outside, Majesta Valasek who racked up 32 kills in the contest with the next high in kills being just six. DWU got another solid performance from Ady Dwight who recorded her sixth game this year with 20+ kills with her 20 kills. Newcomer to the starting lineup, Logan Bly has continued to prove why she belongs with her 11 kills, marking her second straight game with double-digit kills. The Tigers dropped to 12-10 (3-4 GPAC) while the Broncos improved to 8-8 (3-4 GPAC).

The Quick Details vs. Hastings

Score:

(RV) DWU 1 – HAS 3 (25-18, 20-25, 22-25, 23-25)

Records:

(RV) DWU 12-10 (3-4 GPAC)

HAS 8-8 (3-4 GPAC)

Recap

The Tigers dominated set one with their 25-18 set win. They had their most efficient set with their .324 attack percentage while holding the Broncos to just a .146. To start the set though it was the Broncos jumping out to an early 4-1 lead. From there both teams went back and forth leaving the score at 9-6 and HAS keeping their three-point lead. The Tigers dug in after a Hastings service error and went on to string together 3-0, 4-0 run after run. Ady Dwight led the charge with her eight kills in the set leading to the Tigers 25-18 win. Kayleigh Hybertson was doing it all with her 13 assists and five digs in the set.

Set two was a back-and-forth contest from start to finish. DWU claimed an early 4-3 lead with three of the four points coming off Dwight kills. The Tigers continued to go to Dwight and Bly for their offense while the Broncos leaned on Valasek for theirs. It was the Broncos this time that started to get two points to every DWU point to slowly pull away from the Tigers at 18-14. Dakota Wesleyan being the tough resilient team they are responded to make it a one-point game at 18-17 taking full advantage of three straight attack errors by HAS. The Broncos bared down though and closed the Tigers out on a 7-3 run for a 25-20 set win. In set three the Broncos continued to lean heavy on Valasek, but also got a lot of help from the Tigers who committed 11 errors in the set. This proved to be the difference in the tight 25-23 loss for DWU in set two. Hastings made a key switch defensively to help defend Dwight which paid off with Ady only collecting two kills in the set on 12 attempts.

Set four was all Valasek for the Broncos who DWU had no answer for with her 12 kills in the set alone. She opened the set with two straight kills, fueling the Broncos 5-1 run to start the fourth set and draw a timeout from Wilber. The timeout paid off as the Tigers responded with a big 9-3 run to claim the lead with the score at 10-8. The set continued to be the tale of runs between the two teams with Hastings going on a 3-0, followed by a DWU run to leave the score knotted up at 15. The Tigers needed to find points elsewhere with the Broncos really making it a focus to slow down Dwight. Dwight still collected five kills in the set but it wasn't enough as DWU faced set point at 24-23 and the Broncos went to who else but Valasek to put the game away and record her 32 kill. Tya Weideman had a strong effort in the back row with her team-high 21 digs. The Broncos libero, Miriam Miller turned in a big game with 31 digs and got up some attack attempts from Dwight that nobody gets up. This marks back-to-back contest against the Broncos the Tigers have dropped 3-1. DWU will look to get back on track in the 'Battle of the Tigers' against Doane today at 3 p.m.

Head-to-Head (Hastings)