MADISON, S.D. — Dickinson State fell to Dakota State in straight sets Friday in Frontier Conference play at DSU Fieldhouse, with the Trojans taking the match 25-13, 25-20, 25-23.
The Blue Hawks fell to 2-7 overall and 1-1 in Frontier play, while Dakota State improved to 4-3 overall and 1-0 in the conference.
Dickinson State scored the opening point of the match before Dakota State answered with seven straight to build a 7-1 lead. The Trojans extended the advantage to 15-4 and maintained control the rest of the opening set, winning 25-13.
The Blue Hawks stayed closer in the second after Dakota State again built an early advantage at 5-1. Dickinson State gradually cut into the deficit, pulling within 12-11 on an Ashtynn Egan kill before eventually tying the set at 15 on a Macie Wheeler kill. The teams were tied again at 16 before Dakota State moved ahead 22-17 and went on to take the set 25-20.
Dickinson State held the early advantage in the third. A Paige Rose service ace helped the Blue Hawks take a 3-0 lead, and Dickinson State later moved ahead 9-7 following a Rylee Kogolshak service ace and a Dakota State attack error.
Dakota State worked back into the set, but the Blue Hawks remained within reach through the closing points. Dickinson State pushed the Trojans to 25-23 before Dakota State finished the set and completed the sweep.
Egan, Carmen Pallone and Aubrey Allison shared the team lead with seven kills apiece. Egan added 13 digs while hitting .154 on 26 attacks. Allison finished with eight digs and a service ace, while Pallone added a block assist.
Kogolshak recorded 25 assists and six digs while adding three kills on six attempts without an error. She also finished with a service ace and a block assist. Rose led the Blue Hawks defensively with 17 digs and added a service ace and an assist.
Wheeler and Cate Floy each finished with four kills and two block assists. Geraldyne Fernandez added seven digs and an assist.
Dakota State held the offensive advantage with 43 kills and a .215 hitting percentage, compared with 32 kills and a .070 hitting percentage for Dickinson State. The Trojans also finished with eight total blocks to the Blue Hawks' three.
