DICKINSON, N.D. - The Dickinson State volleyball team (4-17, 2-6 NSAA) took down in-state rival Valley City State University (8-12, 4-6 NSAA) in a five set thriller, 13-25, 33-31, 23-25, 25-18, 15-11 in Scott Gym on Tuesday night.
The night started with a quick 25-13 VCSU victory in set one, but in the second set the script changed. DSU fell behind early, and trailed 17-13, before storming back to take a 22-20 lead on a kill from Madi Wahl. The teams traded points until it was 24-22 DSU on a VCSU error, bringing the Blue Hawks to within a point of taking the second set. Unfortunately for the home team, the Vikings used a pair of kills to tie the score at 24-24 at set the stage for a marathon set. The lead changed hands five times after that point with both teams having multiple shots to scoring the winning point. In the end, DSU emerged victorious 33-31 on back-to-back kills by Wahl, bringing the match to 1-1.
In the third set, Valley City State jumped out to an early lead and never relinquished in on their way to a 25-23 set victory. The Blue Hawks made it interesting when they scored three straight points on Viking errors to come within 23-22, but they would get no closer as VCSU slammed the door, taking a 2-1 lead in the match.
Set four was a mirror of set three with DSU taking a 10-9 lead on a block from Mackenna Johnson and expanding their lead from there, eventually taking the set 25-18 and pushing the match the full five sets.
Set five was all Blue Hawks, as DSU used a relentless attack to carry an early 2-1 lead all the way to a 15-11 set win and 3-2 match victory. It was VCSU's fourth consecutive loss, all in five sets. DSU moved to 2-1 in five set matches this season.
Wahl and Johnson led Dickinson State with 15 kills each, while McKenzie Moser also added 15 kills and ten digs in a balanced Blue Hawk attack. Mary Schnell added valuable contributions off the bench netting seven kills and four digs. Setter Bailey Pearcy had a season high 18 digs and 52 assists for the Blue Hawks and Jenna Swope had 24 digs and 6 assists.
WHATS NEXT
The Blue Hawks will take their last road trip of the season as they head to Dakota State University and Bellevue University next Friday and Saturday, October 21-22.
