Dakota State Sweeps Rocky Mountain to Stay Unbeaten in Frontier Play
| Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DAK | 25 | 25 | 25 | 3 |
| ROC | 22 | 17 | 23 | 0 |
BILLINGS, Mont. - Dakota State extended its unbeaten start in Frontier Conference play Friday with a 3-0 volleyball victory over Rocky Mountain at the Fortin Education Center. The Trojans won 25-22, 25-17, 25-23 to improve to 6-3 overall and 3-0 in the conference, while Rocky Mountain fell to 2-6 and 0-4.
The opening set featured 16 ties before Dakota State created separation late. Consecutive kills by Emily Nelson and Tristyn Maras gave the Trojans a 19-16 advantage, but Rocky Mountain answered and pulled even at 21-21. Nelson broke the tie with another kill, starting a stretch in which Dakota State scored four of the final five points. Macey Wathen and Raya Van Beek combined for a block to close the set at 25-22.
Dakota State led throughout the second set, although Rocky Mountain cut the margin to 18-17. Lauryn Kloth halted that push with a kill, and Sydney Wathen took over at the service line as the Trojans closed on a 7-0 run. Wathen capped the surge with an ace, sending Dakota State into the break with a two-set lead after the 25-17 win.
Rocky Mountain built an 8-5 advantage early in the third set, but kills from Macey Wathen, Van Beek and Maras helped Dakota State move in front 9-8. The Trojans later trailed 15-13 before using a 7-1 run to seize a 20-16 lead, with Macey Wathen and Maras combining for a block during the turnaround. Rocky Mountain rallied again, cutting a 23-19 deficit to 23-22 and then fighting off one match point. Kloth answered both times, delivering kills for Dakota State's final two points and ending the match 25-23.
Maras led the Trojans with 10 kills and hit .267, committing two attack errors in 30 attempts. Kloth finished with eight kills on a .368 hitting percentage while adding two solo blocks and two block assists. Van Beek contributed seven kills, hit .385 and had three block assists, while Kaedyn Sapp added eight kills. Nelson supplied seven kills, 11 assists, nine digs and two block assists.
Dakota State held advantages in kills (45-39), hitting percentage (.193-.111), total blocks (10-5) and service aces (2-0). Gabi Borresen directed the offense with 23 assists and also collected 18 digs, while Sydney Wathen recorded 17 digs, five assists and the set-clinching ace. The Trojans return home to face Montana Western on Friday, Sept. 18, 2026, at 5 p.m. CDT.
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