BISMARCK, N.D. -- Bismarck State volleyball fell 3-0 (25-10, 25-19, 25-23) to Dakota State (S.D.) on Friday at the Bavendick Center, letting a late lead in the third set slip away in their first home conference loss of the season.
The loss drops BSC to 7-10 overall and 5-7 in Frontier Conference play. Dakota State improves to 10-8 overall and 7-5 in conference play, and has now won all four meetings in the all-time series against the Mystics.
Set One: Trojans Take Control Early
After the Mystics opened with a kill by Ashlee Stanger, Dakota State tied the set at 1-1 and 3-3, then took over. The Trojans scored 12 of the next 15 points to lead 15-6 and cruised from there. Bismarck State had four kills against 14 errors in the set, hitting -.263, and Dakota State closed out a 25-10 win.
Set Two: Late Run Proves Decisive
BSC led 1-0, but Dakota State tied it at 1-1 and led the rest of the way. Trailing 15-19, the Mystics scored three straight, on kills by Stanger and McKenna Brendel and a Dakota State attack error blocked by Stanger and Ellie Baumstarck, to pull within 18-19. The Trojans answered with four straight points and closed out a 25-19 win.
Set Three: Mystics Let One Slip Away
Trailing 0-3 early, Bismarck State battled back to tie the set at 5-5, took its first lead at 8-7 and later led 20-16. Dakota State scored three straight to pull within 20-19, and the Mystics answered with three of their own to lead 23-19. The Trojans then won the final six points, the last four coming on Mystic attack errors, to escape with a 25-23 win. The set was tied 10 times and had six lead changes.
Mystics Key Performers
- Ashlee Stanger led the way with a team-high 12.0 points on 10 kills, adding three blocks (one solo, two assists)
- McKenna Brendel added 8 kills, hitting .200, for 8.5 points
- Jordyn Rood chipped in 4 kills and a block assist for 4.5 points
- Ellie Baumstarck contributed 2 block assists
- Piper Harris paced the defense with a team-high 14 digs
- Aislyn Hogan ran the offense for all three sets, recording 22 assists and 9 digs
Game Notes
- Bismarck State hit .017 as a team (28 kills, 26 errors, 118 attempts), their worst since their Aug. 21 loss to Dordt (Iowa). Dakota State hit .250 (43 kills, 13 errors, 120 attempts)
- The beginning of the second half of the season marks the first time the Mystics have been swept in conference play this year
- By comparison, they were swept 15 times last season, a total they will stay under this season
- The match featured 13 ties and eight lead changes, with 10 of the ties and six of the lead changes coming in the third set
- The Mystics drop to 4-1 in conference play at the Bav
Upcoming Home Games
Bismarck State continues its home stretch at the Bavendick Center with four more matches:
- Saturday, Oct. 10 -- vs. #7 Bellevue (Neb.), 2 p.m. Bellevue is 16-2 overall and 12-0 in Frontier play after sweeping Dickinson State on Friday.
- Wednesday, Oct. 14 -- vs. Dickinson State (N.D.), 7 p.m. -- "Volley for the Way Night." Dickinson State is 6-13 overall, 5-7 Frontier.
- Friday, Oct. 16 -- vs. Montana Western, 6 p.m.
- Saturday, Oct. 17 -- vs. Montana Tech, 3 p.m.
JV Notes
The Mystics' JV squad swept Dakota College at Bottineau (N.D.) 3-0 on Friday. JV continues its own schedule with three matches over the next two weeks:
- Wednesday, Oct. 14 -- vs. Dickinson State (N.D.), 5 p.m. (Bavendick Center)
- Saturday, Oct. 17 -- vs. Lake Region State (N.D.), 12 p.m. (Bavendick Center)
- Wednesday, Oct. 21 -- vs. Jamestown (N.D.), 7 p.m. (Bavendick Center)
See the volleyball schedule for more information on how to watch, follow and attend the upcoming matches.
Be sure to visit BSCMystics.com and download the MysticNation app to continue to stay up to date with everything going on in Mystic Athletics.
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