BUTTE- The Dickinson State Volleyball team (0-2, 0-0) came up short in a pair of games at the Big Sky Challenge in Butte, MT today to kick off their 2022 schedule. The Blue Hawks fell 3-0 (25-10, 25-19, 25-14) to #5 Midland Lutheran College (3-1, 0-0) in the first game of the day before dropping the late game 3-0 (25-22, 25-21, 25-12) to Rocky Mountain College (1-1, 0-0).

Game 1

The Blue Hawks battled but were unable to overcome a powerful Midland Lutheran team that came into the match ranked #5 nationally, falling in straight sets. Senior setter Bailey Pearcy had 17 assists while fellow senior Mackenna Johnson posted 7 kills to lead the DSU offense. Pearcy also led the defensive effort, as she and DS Jenna Swope had 10 digs a piece.

The Warriors were led by Taliyah Flores (12 kills 8 digs) and Addisyn Mosier (10 kills) as they outhit the Blue Hawks .294 to -.066.

Game 2

DSU received another strong performance from Bailey Pearcy (22 assists), and Madi Wahl paced the offense with 8 kills, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Rocky Mountain College Battlin' Bears as Dickinson State fell in three sets. RMC jumped out to a 20-10 lead in set one before a Wahl kill started an 8-2 DSU run that brought the score to 22-18. The Blue Hawks came within 24-22 on a kill from Haydin Henschel (5 kills, 7 digs), but that would be as close as they'd get, falling 25-22.

In set two, the Blue Hawks were the team to take the early advantage, leading 13-11 before 5 straight Rocky Mountain points gave RMC the lead for good. Set three started with the teams trading points early, with RMC leading 10-8. However, DSU would be outscored 15-4 the rest of the way leading to the final score.

The Bears used a balanced attack to take down Dickinson State as 4 players recorded a team high 8 kills.

UP NEXT

The Blue Hawk volleyball team returns to action tomorrow, August 20, to take on Carroll College and Northwest University in Big Sky Volleyball Challenge action from Butte, MT.