MADISON, S.D. (vcsuvikings.com) – The Valley City State volleyball team dropped its regular season finale to Dakota State Friday night, 25-17, 25-15, 31-29.

Valley City State finishes the season with a 4-19 record overall and a 3-11 record in the North Star Athletic Association. Dakota State improves to 13-8 overall and 9-4 in conference play. The Trojans finish the regular season Saturday against Mayville State.

Dani Schwanke paced the Viking defense with a game-high 24 digs Friday. Bailey Nelson finished with eight kills and Katie Juarez added seven kills and 14 digs for the Vikings. Maara Nelson added 11 digs for the Vikings. Kallene Klever tallied 13 set assists while Jakenda Short finished with 11.

Dakota State held just a 17-16 lead in set one when the Trojans took an 8-1 rally to finish the set, 25-17. Midway through the second set, the Trojans took a 7-1 run and the Vikings couldn’t recover as Dakota State finished the set with a 25-15 win.

Valley City State found some fire in the third set, overcoming a nine-point deficit to tie the game at 22-22 including four service aces from Katie Juarez and three kills from Macey Kvilvang in the Viking rally. The teams went back-and-forth with seven more ties, but the Trojans held on, finishing with a kill from Hannah Viet to take the final set 31-29.

Dakota State’s Maddie Polzin posted a game-high 16 kills and added 14 digs. Peyton Groft tallied 20 digs while Madalyn Groft finished with 31 set assists and 12 digs for the Trojans.

UP NEXT: The Vikings will be on the road for the first round of the NSAA Tournament on Tuesday, March 30. Valley City State’s opponent will be finalized after all conference games conclude on Saturday.