dsu athletics news
dsu athletics pages
Trojans play four matches at USF Halloween Tournament this weekend
October 25, 2011
THIS WEEK: As Dakota State (16-15 overall record) finished their impressive home schedule last week, the Trojans play four matches in the University of Sioux Falls Halloween tournament Friday and Saturday. DSU will be facing three teams that are making a transition to NCAA Division II (University of Sioux Falls, Lindenwood and Minot State) along with NAIA's nationally-ranked team Grand View (Iowa).
MATCH TIMES: DSU will start the tournament at Stewart Center on Friday afternoon against the host-team University of Sioux Falls (9-24) at 3 p.m. The Trojans will take a quick trip to Sioux Falls Christian High School for a 6 p.m. match-up with Lindenwood (Mo.) (18-12). On Saturday, Dakota State plays their former Dakota Athletic Conference (DAC) foe Minot State at 10 a.m. and No. 23 Grand View (30-6) at 12 p.m. Both matches will be played at Sioux Falls Christian High School gym.
LAST TIME OUT: Dakota State went 3-1 last week. The Trojans defeated Dakota Wesleyan in a five-set thriller (19-25, 25-10, 23-25, 25-21 and 18-16) on Oct. 19. DSU suffered a five-set match loss to Midland on Oct. 21 (30-32, 25-23, 16-25, 25-23 and 15-12). The Trojans won the final two matches at DSU Fieldhouse on Oct. 22, defeating Oklahoma Wesleyan 3-1 (23-25, 25-13, 25-22 and 25-21) and Mayville State 3-1 (15-25, 25-23, 25-22 and 25-19). After DSU's win over the Comets, the Trojans moved one match above .500 for the first time since 2005 (DSU finished 16-14 that year and advanced to the DAC Volleyball Postseason Tournament's championship match).
DSU FINISHED WITH IMPRESSIVE HOME RECORD: DSU finished their 2011 home schedule at DSU Fieldhouse with an impressive 9-2 record. The two defeats came in against NCAA Division II South Dakota Mines in four sets (19-25, 25-21, 20-25 and 23-25) on Sept. 23 and Midland in five sets (30-32, 25-23, 16-25, 25-23 and 12-15) on Oct. 21.
LAST MEETING: The Trojans recorded a 3-1 victory over University of Sioux Falls by the scores of 18-25, 25-22, 25-19 and 25-23 at DSU Fieldhouse on Oct. 7. DSU will meet Lindenwood for the first time in volleyball program history. Minot State defeated DSU in their last meeting in the DAC Volleyball Postseason Tournament at MSU Dome on Nov. 6, 2010. The Beavers swept the Trojans in three straight sets (25-18, 25-20 and 25-23). Dakota State suffered a 3-1 defeat (25-16, 25-23, 23-25 and 25-17) to Grand View on Aug. 27, 2010 in the Grand View Tournament in both team's last meeting.
KRUGGEL EARNS HONORS: Stephanie Kruggel smashed her 1000th career kill in DSU's 3-1 win over Oklahoma Wesleyan on Oct. 22. As a result, Kruggel earned Association of Independent Institutions (A.I.I.) Female Athlete of the Week. She ranks 10th in the nation in total kills with 420 and 36th in kills per set (3.7). She continues to display impressive numbers during her four-year career at Dakota State as she currently records 1029 kills, 900 set assists, 120 service aces, 1212 digs and 235 total blocks. Kruggel averaged 4.9 kills (89 kills) and 4.2 digs (76 digs) per set last week.
COACHES' CORNER: Amy Veenhof is in 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 guides 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.
UP NEXT: Dakota State wraps up their 2011 regular season schedule as they head on the road on Nov. 5. The Trojans face their former Dakota Athletic Conference (DAC) foe South Dakota Mines in both teams' second meeting of the season. First serve is set for 4 p.m. (Central Time)/3 p.m. (Mountain time) at King Center in Rapid City, S.D.
Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director
