DICKINSON, N.D. – The Blue Hawk volleyball team split a pair of games against visiting Briercrest College earlier this afternoon. The Blue Hawks fell in game one (3-2) before soaring past the Clippers in game two (3-0). With the split, the Blue Hawks move to 5-2 on the year, while the Clippers move to 1-1 to start their season.
Game One: Dickinson State 2, Briercrest College 3
Despite dropping the first two sets to the Clippers of Briercrest College, the Blue Hawks soared in the following two sets to push a fifth and final set. Despite being down 3-0 early in the deciding set, the Blue Hawks rallied back and outscored the Clippers 6-3 to tie things up at 6-6. After a ball-handling-error (BHE) by Briercrest and a kill by Abby Moerkerke (JR/Gillette, WY ), the Hawks saw their first lead of the final set at 8-6. However, the Clippers closed off the game with a 9-3 run to come away with their first win of the season.
Cassie North (SO/Missoula, MT ) led the Blue Hawks with eight kills. Baylie Dashner (JR/Palm Desert, CA ) and Moerkerke followed with seven and six respectably, while Kadara Marshall (SR/Hilo, HI) and Alyssa Wisher (JR/Kalispell, MT ) added five a piece. Keera Stookey (SR/Huntley, MT) and Karlie Cleveland (SO/Billings, MT ) combined for 29 of the team's 31 assists, while Sarah Dobitz (JR/Dickinson, ND ) and Jenna Swope (SO/Miles City, MT ) racked in double-figure digs with 16 and 11 respectively.
Game Two: Dickinson State 3, Briercrest College 0
The Blue Hawks came alive in game two as they routed Briercrest by scores of 25-17, 25-9, and 25-18. Dickinson slashed their best attacking percentage of the season with a .276 mark and held the Clippers offense to -.056. Dickinson also forced 29 Clipper attack errors and eight service errors in the win.
Kennedy Hildebrand (SR/Billings, MT) and Baylie Dashner led the Blue Hawk offense with seven and six kills, respectively. Cassie North followed with five, while Abby Moerkerke added four of her own. Defensively, Jenna Swope and Karlie Cleveland tallied a team-high nine digs, while Erin Campbell (JR/Absarokee, MT ) was close behind with eight. Swope also added a game-high four service aces to her afternoon.
Up Next –
Your Blue Hawks are back in action on Wednesday, September 18th as they travel to take on non-conference opponent South Dakota School of Mines. Game time is set for 6 p.m. (MDT).
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