DICKINSON, N.D. — Dickinson State opened Frontier Conference play with a 3-1 victory over Bismarck State on Wednesday at Scott Gymnasium, winning the final two sets after the Mystics evened the match.
The Blue Hawks won 25-21, 19-25, 25-22, 25-21 to improve to 2-6 overall and 1-0 in conference play. Bismarck State fell to 2-4 overall and 0-1 in the Frontier.
Dickinson State established an early lead in the opening set before Bismarck State pulled even at 16. The Blue Hawks moved back in front and led 21-17 following a Taylor Gaer service ace. Bismarck State cut the margin to one at 22-21, but Dickinson State took the final three points, including an Aubrey Allison kill and a Rylee Kogolshak service ace, to close out the set 25-21.
Bismarck State answered in the second. The Mystics built a 15-10 advantage and maintained the lead the rest of the way, taking the set 25-19 to tie the match.
Dickinson State regained the lead in the third after the teams worked through a 17-17 tie. A Cate Floy kill put the Blue Hawks back in front before Dickinson State extended its advantage to 20-17. The Blue Hawks later reached set point at 24-19, and after Bismarck State scored three straight, Allison finished the set with a kill for a 25-22 win.
The fourth set remained close through the middle stages. Dickinson State erased a 15-11 deficit and tied the score at 15 on an Allison kill. Bismarck State moved back in front 17-15 before the Blue Hawks put together the decisive run.
Macie Wheeler tied the set at 17 with a kill before Allison gave Dickinson State the lead on the next point. The Blue Hawks continued the run behind Paige Rose's serve, building a 22-17 advantage. Bismarck State pulled within 23-21 late, but Dickinson State scored the final two points to finish the 25-21 win and close out the match.
"Tonight was a great example of what this team is capable of when we stay together and keep fighting," Dickinson State head coach Stormy Owsley said. "We battled back from a deficit in the fourth set and found a way to finish the job. There's nothing better than getting a win at home, especially before heading on the road for the next two weeks. Proud of the fight, the belief, and the way we stayed together when it mattered most."
Allison led Dickinson State with 16 kills and 15 digs while adding two service aces and 19 points. The Blue Hawks also received balanced production across the front row, with Carmen Pallone finishing with 13 kills, Floy adding 11 and Wheeler recording eight. The four combined for 48 of Dickinson State's 54 kills.
Kogolshak directed the offense with 41 assists and added 13 digs and a service ace. Dickinson State had four players reach double figures in digs, led by Gaer with 17. Rose finished with 16, Allison had 15 and Kogolshak added 13, while Geraldyne Fernandez contributed nine.
The Blue Hawks finished with 83 digs and held a 54-44 advantage in kills. Dickinson State also recorded eight service aces, doubling Bismarck State's total of four.
Dickinson State continues Frontier Conference play Friday at Dakota State in Madison, S.D. First serve is scheduled for 4 p.m. The Blue Hawks then travel to Bellevue, Neb., to face Bellevue at noon Saturday.
