VALLEY CITY, N.D. (VCSUVikings.com) – Valley City State outside hitters Katie Juarez and Bailey Nelson combined for 33 kills as the Vikings took a 3-1 victory over Dickinson State Tuesday, 25-18, 19-25, 27-25 and 25-20.

Tuesday was also a big night for Kallene Klever as she recorded her 1000th career dig in the conference match.

Valley City State improves to 9-13 overall and 6-2 in the North Star Athletic Association. Dickinson State drops to 2-20 overall and 2-7 in the conference.

“We are still in the process of learning how to win and we’ll get there, but we have to feel it and live it. It’ll take a couple more matches to learn how to do that.” said head coach Brigitte Greywater.

The Blue Hawks kept up with the Vikings on the stat sheet with each team finishing with 57 kills and 55 assists on the night. Dickinson State edged Valley City State in digs (58-52) while VCSU led the way in blocks (6-5).

Valley City State trailed 15-13 midway through the first set when the Vikings pulled a 6-0 run, capped by an ace from Ava Wille. The Vikings finished the set with six of the last seven points to win the first set, 25-18.

Dickinson State then hit .412 as a team with just three attack errors in the second set to win 25-19.

In set three, the Vikings gave up three straight set point opportunities to allow the Blue Hawks to tie the set at 24-24. Back-to-back kills from Bailey Nelson finished the set in favor of the Vikings, 27-25.

Valley City State was determined to take the fourth set, leading by as much as nine points on a Juarez service ace to hold a 16-7 advantage. The Blue Hawks would later get within two points on a block from Hannah Lord and Cassidy Larson to trail 21-19. After a Viking timeout, VCSU rounded out the set with a 4-1 rally to finish the victory over Dickinson State.

Juarez tied her career-best 19 kills Tuesday while Nelson tallied 15 and Caitlyn Fischbach added 14. Sadie Hansen totaled 49 set assists and seven digs for VCSU.

Juarez added a team-high 15 digs in the match and Klever added 10. Senior Makayla Wetzel finished with four blocks and Nelson added three for the Vikings.

“Our block did a really nice job and stepped up when we needed them to. Our outside hitters played really well and our serve receive was good.” said Greywater. “There are lots of good things happening for us.”

Dickinson State’s Baylie Dashner led all players with 21 kills Tuesday. Cassidy Larson finished with 12 kills while Mackenna Johnson and Hannah Lord each tallied 10. Bailey Pearcy totaled 49 set assists for Dickinson State.

Johnson added a team-high 14 digs for the Blue Hawks while Pearcy and Jenna Swope each added 11.

UP NEXT: Valley City State travels to Concordia on Wednesday for a non-conference match. First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m.