Sioux Center, Iowa – The Dakota Wesleyan Tigers completed a thrilling five-set comeback win against Dordt University. After trailing 2-1 DWU clawed their way back to earn the five-set win and keep their chances alive of concluding another season with 20+ wins. Wilber and the Tigers have won 20+ games two straight seasons in a row and have won 20+ games three times with Wilber under the helm. On the court Ady Dwight turned in another dominant performance with her 26 kills and .431 attack percentage. Dwight had her second highest point total of the season with 28.5. Tya Weideman was an anchor again in the back row with a game-high 35 digs. Callie Slagter also had a big night in the back row with a career-high 20 digs. Kayleigh Hybertson recorded her ninth double-double of the season with her 49 assists and 15 digs.
The Quick Details vs. Defenders
Score:
DWU 3 – DOR 2 (23-25 25-23, 22-25, 25-21, 15-12)
Records
DWU 19-13 (8-7 GPAC)
DOR 4-17 (3-12 GPAC)
Recap
Set one was a back-and-forth contest for the first quarter of the set with Dordt holding onto a slim 12-11 lead over Dakota Wesleyan. The Defenders did a solid job on defense limiting Dwight who only recorded one kill during the stretch. This called for other players to step up and provide the offensive production and they did just that to keep them close with the Defenders. The Tigers got their points from keeping rallies alive in the back row with dig after dig. This tight contest continued to the 18-17 mark with the Defenders still holding a slim lead. Again, it was an attack by committee with DWU getting kills from four different attackers during the six-point stretch. Dordt recorded three straight points, grabbing a 21-17 lead and drawing a DWU timeout. The Tigers pulled within one again, but Dordt was able to close it out and win the set 25-23.
DWU had an early 3-1 lead behind two kills from Dwight, but the Defenders responded with their biggest run of the game with eight straight points for a 9-3 advantage. DWU being the tough resilient team they are and never getting down on themselves and never looking at any deficit as insurmountable clawed their way back to come within one of the Defenders. Dordt got their offense back in rhythm though, claiming a 18-11 lead with their 8-2 run. Facing a seven-point deficit and risk of going down 2-0 the Tigers needed a spark. That spark was their All-American Ady Dwight who rallied her squad to come all the way back and win the set 25-23. During the 14-point stretch Dwight was responsible for half of those points. The back row really stepped up shutting down the Defender offense digging up ball after ball to keep rallies alive and let Dwight and company put the ball away.
In set three it was the Tigers jumping out to a 8-4 lead early, drawing a DOR timeout. Dordt chipped away at that lead through the first half of the set to leave the score at 17-16 with the Tigers claiming that one-point lead. It was at this point that the Defenders found their rhythm again on offense going on a 8-1 run, giving them set point at 24-18 and looking to go up 2-1. The Tigers wouldn't go away easy though as they strung together four straight points to bring it within two-points and force a Defender timeout. The timeout paid off as DWU had a service error to give Dordt a 2-1 set advantage.
Facing a 2-1 hole the Tigers were not messing around in set four, winning the set 25-21. Dakota Wesleyan held at least a two-point lead for a majority of the set and minimized any kind of run or comeback like the Defenders strung together in the first three sets. DWU did a great job of limiting their errors in the set and making the Defenders earn every point while also having their second most efficient set with their .234 attack percentage compared to Dordt's .130. With it now tied at two sets apiece it was going to come down to who wants it more and who plays best under pressure and when it counts most. With a packed house in Sioux Center, Iowa the Tigers stepped up and answered the call like they have done time and time again. Though it wasn't the prettiest set the Tigers have ever played they always seem to find a way to pull these types of games out and make the plays when they need to. The great teams need to have this trait and the Tigers have had for awhile now. With the 15-12 set five win, DWU is now 8-3 in their last 11 five set matches.
Up Next
The Tigers close out the 2023 season with a road matchup against No. 12 Jamestown Tuesday, October 31 with first serve at 7:30 p.m. DWU currently sits in the 6th seed spot while the Jimmies are the 3rd seed.