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Trojan Volleyball plays final home matches this week
October 17, 2011
THIS WEEK: After posting a 3-0 record last week, the DSU volleyball team (13-14 overall) looks to extend their season-high winning streak this week. The Trojans play their final four home matches of the season at DSU Fieldhouse. On Wednesday night, DSU welcomes their in-state rival Dakota Wesleyan (7-17) with a junior varsity match at 6 p.m., followed by a varsity match at 7:30 p.m. The Trojans will welcome Midland (15-8) on Friday night with a junior varsity match at 6 p.m. and varsity match at 7;30 p.m. DSU hosts a triangular on Saturday.
DSU TRIANGULAR: Dakota State will host a triangular on Saturday at DSU Fieldhouse. The Trojans play Oklahoma Wesleyan (14-14) at 10 a.m., followed by Mayville State-Oklahoma Wesleyan at 12 noon. DSU play their final home match of the season versus Mayville State (20-11) at 2 p.m.
LAST TIME OUT: Dakota State got a combined 46 kills from Stephanie Kruggel, Lauren LaBar and Kristen DiPaola in a 3-1 win over Minnesota-Morris on Oct. 11. The Trojans won a pair of matches in the Waldorf (Iowa) triangular on Oct. 15. DSU defeated host-team Waldorf 3-1 and made a quick work versus AIB (Iowa) in three straight sets.
THEMES: DSU faculty and staff appreciation night is the theme for Wednesday night's home volleyball match versus Dakota Wesleyan. Seniors will be recognized prior to the match on Friday night. Wear white clothing on Saturday as part of White-out.
LAST MEETING: Dakota State won a five-set thriller (22-25, 25-13, 25-17, 23-25 and 15-10) with Dakota Wesleyan in the Corn Palace Classic on Sept. 3 in both teams' last meeting. DSU won both meetings with Midland last year. The Trojans won in five sets (24-26, 27-25, 17-25, 25-22 and 15-12) in the Grand View Tournament on Aug. 27, 2010. DSU recorded a 3-1 victory (16-25, 26-24, 25-21 and 25-21) over the Warriors in the Hastings Classic on Sept. 10, 2010. Dakota State will meet Oklahoma Wesleyan for the first time on Saturday morning. Mayville State defeated DSU in Mayville, N.D. on Sept. 30. The Comets won in four sets (25-22, 25-17, 24-26 and 25-15).
SENIORS: Dakota State will be recognizing two seniors - Stephanie Kruggel and Lauren LaBar - on Friday night. Kruggel and LaBar had been integral members of the Trojan volleyball team. Kruggel had been a four-year starter for the Trojans. In her four-year career at Dakota State, she records 940 kills, 896 assists, 114 service aces, 1136 digs and 227 total blocks. LaBar transferred to DSU in her junior year. In her two-year career as the Trojans, she records 207 kills, 23 service aces, 190 digs and 29 total blocks.
HOME COOKING: DSU improved their home record to 6-1 after a 3-1 victory over NCAA Division III University of Minnesota-Morris. The Trojans suffered its only setback to NCAA Division II South Dakota Mines in four sets on Sept. 23.
COACHES' CORNER: Amy Veenhof enters her third season as head coach at Dakota State. She has coached one all-conference player and five NAIA Academic All-American scholar athletes. Jessica VanLoy is in her first season as an assistant coach. She will guide the Trojans' junior varsity volleyball program this fall. Becky Smith is in her first year as a student assistant coach.
STAY CONNECTED: Stay connected with Dakota State volleyball and athletics all season long at www.dsuathletics.com. The Trojans are also on Twitter; just log onto www.twitter.com/DaSUAthletics.
LIVE STATS: Live stats and play-by-play will be available in all Dakota State's home games. The live stats are available on game day on www.dsuathletics.com under 'Live Games' above the 'Upcoming Events'.
WATCH IT: All Dakota State home volleyball matches will be webcast live and free of charge. Fans wanting to follow the action can go to the following link: www.streaming.dsu.edu/Athletics-Live.
UP NEXT: Dakota State competes in the University of Sioux Falls Halloween Tournament next weekend (Oct. 28 and Oct. 29) The matches will be held at the Stewart Center and Sioux Falls Christian High School. DSU will face three teams that are making transition to NCAA Division II (USF, Minot State and Lindenwood) and NAIA team Grand View (Iowa).
Nick Hutimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director
