Trojan Spikers beat Vikings 3-1
October 17, 2009
MADISON, S.D. - The Dakota State University volleyball team bounced back from a tough loss Friday night. The Trojans defeated Valley City State 3-1 in a crucial DAC Conference match at the DSU Fieldhouse. The match scores were 25-18, 22-25, 25-18, 25-23.
It was DSU's third win in the last four matches. The Trojans raised their overall record to 8-13 and 3-6 in the DAC Conference. Valley City State suffered their fifth loss in the last six matches. The Vikings dropped to 11-12 overall record and a fifth place tie in the DAC Conference with the Trojans.
The Vikings grabbed a 10-7 early lead in the opening set. The Trojans went on 14-4 run to overtake a 21-14 lead. DSU eventually held on and took the opening set win by the score of 25-18.
After a 12-12 tie, the Trojans used a 6-0 scoring run for a 17-11 lead. However, the Vikings closed the second set with a 14-5 run for a 25-22 win to put the match at one apiece.
DSU took the third set victory by an identical score from the first set to take a 2-1 match lead.
The Trojans and Vikings were tied eight times in the early fourth set. DSU used a 4-0 mini-run to grab a 14-10 lead and did not allow the Vikings get within more than two points. The Trojans closed out the Vikings by a score of 25-23 for a 3-1 match win.
Rachael Jensen led the Trojans' balanced offense attack with 19 kills. Margie Anthony added 13 kills. Stephanie Kruggel and Ashley Schulte each had six kills. Mollie Merriam recorded 39 set assists.
Katie Green and Kruggel each recorded two service aces for DSU.
Shelby Tollefson had 25 digs for the Trojans' defense. Jensen added 17 digs, Kruggel 12 and Merriam 10. Vicki Kaul had two solo blocks.
Heidi Larson recorded 23 kills for VCSU. Jasmine Nyx added seven kills. Kelsey Hanson recorded 43 set assists.
Larson had three service aces for the Vikings.
Amanda Smith recorded 43 digs in the match for Valley City State. Larson added 15 digs and Mardee Lander had 11 digs. Hanson had two solo blocks and three block assists.
The Trojans out-hit the Vikings 54-47 and .280 to .137. The Vikings had 12 service errors compared to the Trojans' seven.
Dakota State will head to North Dakota next weekend for a crucial DAC conference weekend. The Trojans will visit Minot State in Minot, N.D. on Friday, Oct. 23 at 7:00 p.m. On Saturday, Oct. 24, DSU will travel to Dickinson, N.D. for a match-up with Dickinson State at 4:00 p.m. (CT)/3:00 p.m. (MT).
Box Score vs. Valley City State - 10/17/09
Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director
