NORTH SIOUX CITY, S.D. — Dickinson State closed the Siouxland Invitational on Saturday with losses to Hastings and Morningside at CNOS Fieldhouse, finishing its opening weekend with a 1-3 record.
The Blue Hawks fell to Hastings in four sets, 25-11, 25-17, 18-25, 25-20, before dropping a three-set match to Morningside, 25-18, 25-22, 25-17.
Against Hastings, Dickinson State settled in after a slow start and produced its strongest stretch in the third set. The Blue Hawks recorded 11 kills and hit .257 in the frame while holding Hastings to a .093 attack percentage.
That response helped Dickinson State take the third set 25-18 and extend the match.
Carmen Pallone and Cate Floy led the Blue Hawks with seven kills each. Pallone added six total blocks, including one solo block, while Rylee Kogolshak finished with 26 assists, 13 digs and five total blocks.
Paige Rose led Dickinson State with 18 digs. Aubrey Allison added five kills and 15 digs, while Macie Wheeler recorded five kills on .235 hitting with three block assists.
Dickinson State finished the match with 32 kills, 64 digs and 11 team blocks.
The Blue Hawks returned later in the day against Morningside and stayed competitive through the first two sets.
Dickinson State recorded 10 kills in the opening set before falling 25-18. The Blue Hawks improved to 13 kills in the second and pushed the set to 25-22 before Morningside took a 2-0 lead.
Allison led Dickinson State with 12 kills in the match. Pallone added seven kills and three block assists, while Taylor Gaer finished with six kills, 14 digs and a service ace.
Kogolshak recorded 24 assists, 11 digs, three block assists and an ace. Rose added 14 digs and a service ace.
As a team, Dickinson State finished with 30 kills, 54 digs, 28 assists, three service aces and four team blocks while hitting .134.
"Today showed us exactly where we need to improve," head coach Stormy Owsley said. "It wasn't the result we wanted, but we're excited to keep pushing forward, learning from it, and getting better."
The Blue Hawks finished the Siouxland Invitational 1-3 after defeating Clarke and falling to No. 7 McPherson on Friday.
Dickinson State returns to action Friday, Aug. 28, at the College of Idaho Tournament in Caldwell, Idaho. The Blue Hawks face No. 2 Eastern Oregon at 11 a.m. and No. 15 The Master's at 5 p.m. before facing No. 18 College of Idaho at 6 p.m. Saturday.
