Volleyball Drops a Pair of Home GPAC Matches

Things did not fall as expected over the weekend for Viking Volleyball.  Dana was looking to build off of an impressive home sweep of Friends University.  Unfortunately for Dana, Morningside College and Dakota Wesleyan University each stopped the Vikings’ momentum.

The Vikings fell in three straight games, 30-23, 30-11, 30-20, to Morningside.  The Mustangs currently sit atop of the Great Plains Athletic Conference volleyball standings.  April Fitch (FR, Creighton, Neb.) led the Vikings with nine kills on 21 attempts.  Kali Brayfield (SO, Elkhorn, Neb.) and Danielle Neville (FR, Grand Island, Neb.) each had seven kills.  Brayfield also led the team with two solo blocks.  Nichole Elwood (SO, Fremont, Neb.) had 28 set assists for the Vikings.  Lacie Greiner (SO, Boone, Iowa) had 10 defensive digs for Dana.

“Friday was a tough night for us against the top team in our conference,” said Head Coach Rayna Cain. “We played very aggressive and intense in the first set but gave to many runs throughout the match.”

Saturday afternoon, Dana hosted Dakota Wesleyan University.  The Vikings played hard, but were stopped by the Tigers in five games (27-30, 24-30, 33-31, 35-34, 11-15).  The Viking attack found its momentum in the five-set thriller. Fitch, Brayfield, Greiner, and Neville all posted double digit kills.  Brayfield led the four-some with 18 kills, Fitch had 16, Greiner had 15, and Neville 11. Elwood had 39 set assists for the Vikings.  Freshman Stephanie Connell (Harlan, Iowa) added 14 assists.  Casey Smith (FR, Yutan, Neb.) helped the Viking cause with four service aces.  Kira Presler (SR, Omaha, Neb.) added two more service aces.  Greiner and Neville also were defensive stand-outs for Dana.  Each had team highs with 20 digs.  Smith and Presler had 16 and ten respectively.

“We fought a very tough five-set match,” said Cain.  “Our passing and serving started to pick up in the third and fourth set which allowed us to go on several long runs.  It was tough to lose this one with our players playing the way that they did.”

Dana is now 7-14 overall and 1-5 in GPAC play.  The Vikings will host the Concordia Bulldogs on Wednesday.  The reserve match is scheduled for 6 p.m. followed by the varsity match at 7:30 p.m.  Dana will also honor members of the teaching faculty before the reserve game on Wednesday. 

The Vikings will be on the road this weekend as they travel to the University of Sioux Falls on Friday for a 7:30 p.m. match-up and to Mt. Marty in Yankton, S.D., for a 3 p.m. game on Saturday.  

For More Information, please contact:

Shad Beam, Sports Information Director, 402-426-7389 or sbeam@dana.edu