Trojans lose tough battle with Yellow Jackets in volleyball action
October 30, 2009
MADISON, S.D. - The Trojan volleyball team faced a top tier DAC team from Black Hills State at the DSU Fieldhouse Friday night. DSU battled to the wire with the Yellow Jackets, but suffered a tough loss to BHSU in four exciting sets, 28-26, 25-16, 22-25, 26-24. The Trojans honored two seniors, Vicki Kaul and Rachael Jensen, prior to the match.
The Trojans dropped to 8-17 overall and 3-9 in DAC conference play. Black Hills State bumped up their overall record to 19-11 and 9-3 in DAC.
In an exciting opening set, the Trojans and Yellow Jackets went down to the wire. The Trojans trailed 24-21 and scored four straight points to overtake a 25-24 lead. Black Hills State, however ended with a 4-1 run to take a 28-26 first set win.
BHSU breezed through the second set with a 25-16 win.
After Trojans' 10-8 lead, DSU went on a 9-4 run to make the largest lead of the third set, 19-12. The Yellow Jackets crept back in the set within three points, but the Trojans went on to close the third set, 25-22 to force a fourth set.
DSU used a 4-0 run to break out a 4-4 tie in the early fourth set. After Trojans' 14-11 lead, BHSU went on a 5-0 scoring team to overtake a 16-14 lead. The fourth set went down to the wire as the Yellow Jackets won the decisive fourth set win, 26-24, for a 3-1 match victory over the Trojans.
Jensen had 14 kills for the Trojans. Stephanie Kruggel added ten kills. Ashley Schulte had seven kills. Mollie Merriam had 30 set assists.
Kruggel recorded two service aces.
Merriam had 16 digs to lead Trojans' defense. Kruggel added 15 digs, Amy Pheneger 12 and Katie Green 11. Kaul and Schulte had four block assists.
Kristin Engel had 21 kills for the Yellow Jackets. Maggie O'Neill added 14 kills. Mandy Brumfield had 54 set assists.
Five Yellow Jackets recorded double digits digs. Carina Sweet had 19 digs and O'Neill 18. Brumfield and Brittani Casados each had 16 digs. Lindsey Schloredt had 14 digs.
Kristin Engle had two block solos and eight block assists. Kalin Engle added a block solo and seven block assists.
The Yellow Jackets out-hit the Trojans 58-46 and .270 to .131. BHSU had 14 team blocks to the Trojans' 6.
Dakota State will play their final home match of the season tomorrow night. The Trojans will welcome South Dakota School of Mines in a DAC Conference game. First serve is slated at 7 p.m.
Box Score vs. Black Hills State
Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director
