MITCHELL, S.D. — RV Dakota Wesleyan Volleyball opened conference play with a win over the Waldorf Warriors at home.
The Tigers would jump out to a one-set lead after a solid showing in the first frame of the contest. Evy Knoblock would lead the offensive effort with her second-highest kill count of the season, registering 19 in total, while Emily Dale would be the team’s main force at the net with five blocks in four sets. The Warriors would fight back in the second set after keeping it competitive in the first, flipping the 25-21 scoreline to tie the match up at 1-1, but a strong showing from the Tigers in the third set would put the momentum back in favor of Dakota Wesleyan.
Defensively, the team was led by Abigail Zegar who put up a personal season-best of 20 digs, and would receive backup from Elizabeth Tyler and Knoblock, who put up 16 and 12 digs, respectively. Karly VanDerWerff would not be the team’s leading offensive force like she had been in recent contests, but the sophomore still had a good showing, posting eight kills and three blocks at the net. The Tigers would roll through the third frame by a score of 25-9.
All match long, the offense would run through reigning GPAC Setter-of-the-Week, Kayleigh Hybertson. She would post an impressive 40 assists, four kills, and would end just one dig short of another double-double this season. This contest would mark the fifth match of the season that Hybertson would post 40-plus assists in as she continues to make her case as one of the country’s top setters.
Waldorf found its footing in the fourth set, but a late Dakota Wesleyan run would push the Tigers to a 3-1 match win over the previously-undefeated Warriors off the back of an impressive effort from the offensive front.
DWU Volleyball will be back in action down in Orange City, Iowa, as they face the Northwestern Red Raiders on Wednesday, September 10th.