DICKINSON, N.D. — Dickinson State capped its final home weekend of the regular season with a second consecutive victory Friday night, defeating Mayville State 3-1 (25-20, 23-25, 25-18, 25-22) on Senior Night at Scott Gymnasium.
The Blue Hawks improved to 8-19 overall and 7-13 in Frontier Conference play after winning both matches of the home weekend. Dickinson State swept Valley City State on Thursday before finishing the weekend with a four-set victory over Mayville State, giving the Blue Hawks back-to-back wins for the first time since Sept. 18-19.
The two victories also provided an important boost with the regular season nearing its conclusion. Dickinson State has two conference matches remaining before the eight-team Frontier Conference Tournament field is set.
Friday's victory completed a regular-season sweep of Mayville State after Dickinson State won the first meeting 3-0 on Oct. 1.
"Tonight was about competing together and celebrating five seniors who have given so much to this program," said head coach Stormy Owsley. "I'm proud of our team and grateful we could make their senior night one to remember."
The Blue Hawks found different ways to create separation Friday. Mayville State finished with 55 kills to Dickinson State's 51, but the Blue Hawks committed 17 fewer attack errors, held a 5-0 advantage in service aces and outblocked the Comets 8.5-6.
Dickinson State started quickly, scoring the first 5 points of the match behind kills from Carmen Pallone and Aubrey Allison and an Ashtynn Egan ace. Mayville State eventually pulled even at 17, but the Blue Hawks responded with 3 straight points, including a Taylor Gaer ace and Pallone kill, to regain control.
Pallone later put away the final point of the 25-20 opening-set victory.
Mayville State answered in a back-and-forth second set. Dickinson State erased an early 5-1 deficit and later pulled even at 22 on consecutive Pallone kills. Allison tied the set again at 23 before the Comets scored the final 2 points for a 25-23 win.
The Blue Hawks produced their best offensive stretch of the night in the third. With the score tied at 11, Dickinson State scored 3 straight points to move in front and later stretched a 15-13 lead to 18-13.
Dickinson State finished the set with 15 kills and only 1 attack error on 34 attempts, hitting .412 in a 25-18 victory.
The Blue Hawks then delivered the decisive response late in the fourth. Mayville State held a 20-18 advantage before Dickinson State scored 4 straight points to move ahead 22-20. Gaer served an ace, Pallone added a kill and Pallone teamed with Cate Floy for a block during the run.
Mayville State pulled within 23-22, but Pallone and Allison answered with consecutive kills to close the set 25-22 and finish Dickinson State's home schedule with a victory.
Pallone led the Blue Hawks with 15 kills on .289 hitting and added 3 blocks. Allison finished with 14 kills and 15 digs.
Macie Wheeler turned in an efficient performance in the middle, putting down 11 kills with only 1 error on 16 attacks for a .625 hitting percentage. She also contributed a solo block and 3 block assists.
Rylee Kogolshak recorded a double-double with 43 assists and 21 digs while adding 3 blocks. Gaer collected 20 digs and 2 aces, Egan finished with 6 kills, 11 digs and a match-high 3 aces and Geraldyne Fernandez added 13 digs.
Dickinson State now heads on the road for its final two matches of the regular season. The Blue Hawks travel to Carroll on Friday, Nov. 6, for a 6 p.m. match in Helena, Montana, before closing the regular season Saturday, Nov. 7, at Rocky Mountain in Billings, Montana.
