DICKINSON, N.D. (vcsuvikings.com) – The Valley City State volleyball team dropped a five-set battle to Dickinson State in a non-conference matchup Monday, 26-24, 17-25, 16-25, 27-15, 12-15.
Dickinson State started out to an early 11-7 lead in the first set when Valley City State took a 9-1 run to build a 16-12 lead. The Blue Hawks rallied back to tie the set at 20-20 on a kill from Ashlyn Hamilton. Then, trailing 24-23, VCSU scored the next three straight points including a Bailey Nelson kill to take set one, 26-24.
The Vikings narrowly trailed 10-7 in the second set when the Blue Hawks took a 6-1 rally to lead 16-8. Valley City State got back within four points on a kill from Bailey Nelson at 19-15 but couldn’t get closer as Dickinson State took the second set 25-17.
Vikings opened the third set with an early 10-5 lead on back-to-back kills from Macey Kvilvang and Maara Nelson. The Blue Hawks took a nine-point rally and later found a six-point rally to take the third set 25-16.
Trailing 18-21 in the fourth set, a kill from Katie Juarez and ace serve from Maara Nelson helped the Vikings inch closer. A solo block from Bailey Nelson tied the game at 23-23. Trailing 24-25, Dickinson State committed back-to back errors followed by a Caitlyn Fischbach kill to give the Vikings the fourth set 27-25.
Vikings opened the final set with a 5-2 run when Dickinson State answered with five straight points to lead 7-5. A Katie Juarez kill followed by a block from Juarez and Bailey Nelson tied it up at 7-7. The Vikings would tie it up again at 9-9 on a solo block from Nelson. Dickinson State took the next four points and put it away on a kill from Karlie Cleveland to take the final set 15-12.
The Vikings drop to 4-10 overall and go into the second half of conference play with a 3-3 record in the North Star. Dickinson State improves to 4-4 overall and currently sits at 3-3 in conference play.
Sophomore Bailey Nelson led the Vikings with 12 kills and six blocks Monday while Katie Juarez added seven kills and seven digs. Maara Nelson recorded a team-high 13 digs and Jakenda Short posted a team-high 16 assists. Kallene Klever recorded 12 digs and 12 assists for the Vikings.
Dickinson State’s Baylie Dashner recorded a game-high 19 kills while Mackenna Johnson added 13 kills Monday. Karlie Cleveland recorded 42 set assists and Sarah Dobitz added 17 digs for the Blue Hawks.
UP NEXT: The Vikings go on the road to open the second half of conference this weekend. VCSU faces Waldorf on Friday, March 5, at 7 p.m. The Vikints then take on Viterbo on Saturday, March 6, at 12 p.m.