Vikings Go 2-2 in South Dakota

Sioux Falls, South Dakota ~ The Dana College Volleyball team spent the weekend in Sioux Falls, South Dakota at the Sioux Falls Classic.  The Vikings did not find the tournament to be easy.  All four Dana matches went at least four games en route to a 2-2 overall record.  The Vikings opened up with a five-set win over Mount Marty, 3-2.  Dana then defeated Bethany College, 3-1.  Saturday saw Dana drop two five-set matches to Valley City State University and Dakota State.

The opening match saw Dana and Mount Marty square off for the second time in two weeks.  The two squads took turns winning games, before the Vikings prevailed in the fifth set (30-24, 21-30, 30-25, 24-30, 15-4).  Four Vikings hitters had double digit kills.  Danielle Neville (FR, Grand Island, Neb.) led Dana with 16 kills on 41 attempts.  Lacie Greiner (SO, Boone, Iowa) added 15 kills on 32 attempts.  April Fitch (FR, Creighton, Neb.) and Kali Brayfield (SO, Elkhorn, Neb.) had 14 and 10 kills respectively. 

Nichole Elwood (SO, Fremont, Neb.) and Stephanie Connell (FR, Harlan, Iowa) helped to fuel Dana’s attack.  Connell had 27 set assists and Elwood contributed 14.  Nicole Venditte (SO, Omaha, Neb.) had four service aces.  Greiner, Neville, Kira Presley (SR, Omaha, Neb.), and Casey Smith (FR, Yutan, Neb.) each had two service aces.  Neville also led the team with 16 digs. Fitch had two solo blocks and three block assists.

Late Friday evening, Dana took on Bethany College.  The Vikings took the first two matches in easy fashion before dropping the third set, but rebounded to win the match in four (30-26, 30-23, 28-30, 30-20). Brayfield had a monstrous game with 24 kills on 42 attempts.  She also delivered two solo blocks and four assists. Greiner had 14 kills on 42 attempts. Greiner also served up two aces and led the team with 24 defensive digs. Neville had 12 kills, 11 digs, one solo block, and three block assists. Fitch had ten blocks, one solo block, and a team high five block assists. Elwood dished out a season-high 60 set assists.

Saturday morning saw Dana College drop a pair of five set matches to Dakota State (30-24, 30-28, 25-30, 25-30, 11-15) and Valley City State (30-21, 27-30, 14-30, 30-28, 8-15).

The Vikings came out like a team on fire in the first match of Saturday.  Dana pounded out two straight wins, before dropping the last three in close fashion. Greiner continued to lead the Viking attack as she pounded out 17 kills.  Brayfield and Neville continued to be offensive threats with 12 and ten kills apiece. Elwood kept the Dana attack moving with 44 set assists.  Neville served four aces.  Elwood and Greiner also pitched in three aces apiece.  The duo of Greiner and Neville led the team in defensive digs.  Greiner had 17 digs and Neville had 20. Fitch had the lone solo block for the Vikings and also contributed three block assists.

The Vikings took an early one-set lead over Valley City State, before dropping three of the last four sets (30-21, 27-30, 14-30, 30-28, 8-15).  The trio of Greiner, Neville, and Brayfield led the Viking attack with 13, 11, and 12 kills apiece. Elwood dished out 41 assists. Smith hit a team-high four service aces. Venditte and Presler had 14 and 11 defensive digs respectively. Brayfield and Fitch added two solo blocks apiece.  Brayfield added five block assists and Fitch added three.

Brayfield was the lone Dana representative on the Sioux Falls Classic All-Tournament team.

“We have several intense games this weekend,” said Coach Rayna Cain.  “Individuals are starting to step into their positions and we making big strides in several aspects of our game.”

Cain was excited about the progression of the Viking defense.  “Our defense and blocking has started to pick up and allow our offense to excel,” she said.  “It is encouraging to see how this team fights for every match and their determination to improve.”

The Vikings improved their season record to 4-7 overall.  Dana will travel to Hastings, Neb., on Wednesday night to face NAIA ninth-rated Hastings College.  The JV match is scheduled to start at 6 p.m. and varsity at 7:30 p.m.  Dana will go to Olathe, Kan., this weekend for the Mid-American Nazarene Tournament.  The Vikings are not home until Sept. 21 when they host Friends University of Central Kansas in a double header.