VALLEY CITY, N.D. (vcsusvikings.com) – The Valley City State volleyball team dropped three close sets to Dakota State Friday night, 25-22, 25-20, 25-17.
Valley City State falls to 4-14 overall and 3-6 in the NSAA. Dakota State improves to 10-5 overall and 6-2 in the conference.
Valley City State totaled 10 blocks in Friday’s game, led by six from Caitlyn Fischbach. Dakota State outhit the Vikings though, tallying 39 kills to Valley City State’s 30 kills on the night. The Trojans also tallied 11 ace serves as a team Friday.
The Vikings were led by nine kills and eight digs from Katie Juarez. Caitlyn Fischbach added six kills, six blocks, and eight digs Friday. Maara Nelson and Dani Schwanke each tallied nine digs for the Vikings while Jakenda Short added eight digs and nine set assists. Kallene Klever finished with 17 assists for VCSU.
The Vikings trailed by as much as eight points in the first set at 16-8 when the Vikings took an 8-2 run capped by a block from Bailey Nelson and Katie Juarez. Trailing 22-19, Valley City State took three of the next four points to trail 23-22. A Viking error and ace serve from Dakota State gave the Trojans the first set, 25-22.
Valley City State picked it up in set two for its best set of the night, hitting .243 and committing just two attack errors. The Vikings took their first lead of the game at 12-10 on an ace from Dani Schwanke as a part of a seven-point rally. Dakota State started to pull away, holding a 20-15 lead when the Vikings scored five straight points, including a pair of kills from Juarez. Dakota State then took the next five straight points to finish the set, 25-20.
Dakota State finished with its best set of the night, hitting .281 in the third set. The Vikings held it close early, trailing by just a point at 10-9. With the Vikings trailing 17-13, Dakota State’s Maddie Polzin collected three straight aces to pull away en route to the 25-17 final score.
Dakota State’s Maddie Polzin finished with 16 kills, 12 digs, and six service aces Friday. Peyton Groft recorded a game-high 21 digs for the Trojans and Madalyn Groft added 14 digs and 33 set assists.
UP NEXT: Valley City State hosts #12 Bellevue on Saturday at 12 p.m. Dakota State travels to Dickinson State Saturday for a game at 2 p.m.
photo courtesy VCSU Vikings Athletics/Hannah Anderson