NORTH SIOUX CITY, S.D. – Dickinson State opened the Siouxland Invitational with a sweep of Spartanburg Methodist on Friday morning, winning 3-0 (25-20, 25-23, 25-19). The Blue Hawks improved to 2-0 on the season.

The Blue Hawks finished with 47 kills on .262 hitting and added six aces, 3.0 total blocks and 41 digs. Spartanburg Methodist totaled 31 kills on .220 with six aces, 3 blocks and 34 digs.

Aubrey Allison led Dickinson State with 12 kills and eight digs. Makyah Albrecht added 11 kills on .500 hitting. Carmen Pallone posted eight kills on .400 with two block assists, and Samantha Oase added six kills on .455. Setter Rylee Kogolshak directed the attack with 36 assists and added eight digs, five kills and two block assists. Ashtynn Egan recorded eight digs and two aces, and Geraldyne Fernandez contributed five digs and one ace. 

Spartanburg Methodist was led by Rileigh Franklin with 10 kills on .450, and Kendall Meinders added eight kills on .304. The Pioneers combined for 29 assists and 34 digs. 

Dickinson State closed the first set with a late push. Leading 21-19, the Blue Hawks gained separation on a ball-handling error, an Allison kill and a sideout before Allison added another kill for 24-20 and Pallone ended it 25-20.

Set two featured 11 ties and multiple lead changes before the Blue Hawks finished the frame. A Meinders kill pulled Spartanburg Methodist even at 21-21. After a timeout, Albrecht answered, Meinders tied it again and Allison put DSU up 23-22. A ball-handling error made it 24-22, and after an Aurora Aho kill, Pallone converted the winner for 25-23.

In the third, Dickinson State created separation with a 5-0 stretch from 9-10 to 14-10 that included two aces from Ashtynn Egan. The Blue Hawks closed out the match at 25-19 on a Franklin attack error followed by a bad set.

Head coach Stormy Siemion said the performance was a solid way to begin the weekend. "A great start to the Siouxland tournament. We had a few slow spots in the middle of each set but were able to bounce back with some big offensive plays. Excited to get to our next one," Siemion said.

With the win, Dickinson State improved to 2-0 and continues tournament play later Friday against Doane at the Siouxland Invitational.