Dordt opened the 2025 volleyball season with a pair of sweep wins over Benedictine Mesa and Embry Riddle in Fullerton, California on Friday, August 23.
VS BENEDICTINE MESA
Box Score (PDF)
Dordt started its season with a straight-sets win over Benedictine Mesa (Ariz.), 28–26, 25–17, 25–20, behind a .295 team attack. The teams played as part of a classic hosted by Hope International in Fullerton, California.
- Set 1 — Dordt 28, Benedictine Mesa 26: The Redhawks built the largest lead of the set at three (4–7) before Dordt answered with a 4-0 run to flip it to 8–7. In that run Laney Wolfswinkel recorded a kill and had two ace serves. The teams traded side-outs late, and Dordt closed it out in extras, 28–26 as Myra Carlson had a kill sand Tarren Spartz a block.
- Set 2 — Dordt 25, Benedictine Mesa 17: Tied 15–15, the Defenders ripped off the match's longest surge to that point, a 5-0 run from 17–15 to 22–15 with Ellie Dokter providing a pair of blocks, then finished the frame for the largest lead of the day at eight (25–17).
- Set 3 — Dordt 25, Benedictine Mesa 20: A 5-0 burst (10–7 ? 14–7) gave Dordt control; the Defenders maintained a seven-point cushion (14–7) at their peak and closed the sweep, 25–20.
Team totals (Dordt listed first)
- Kills: 41–39; Kill %: .295 to .167.
- Points from blocks: 7.0 to 2.0.
- Digs: 40 to 39.
Individual leaders — Dordt
By the numbers
- Dordt produced set efficiencies of .211 / .346 / .355, finishing at .295 for the match, while limiting Benedictine Mesa to .231 / .152 / .100 (.167 overall).
- The Defenders' serve kept the Redhawks off-balance with 8 aces, and Dordt out-blocked Benedictine Mesa 7.0–2.0.
VS EMBRY RIDDLE
Box Score (PDF)
Dordt University improved to 2-0 with a straight-sets victory over Embry-Riddle (Ariz.), 25-22, 25-16, 25-19. The Defenders hit .373 as a team and controlled every set with timely scoring runs and balanced production.
How it happened (set by set)
- Set 1 (25-22): Dordt overcame an early 3-0 deficit and used a 5-1 surge (18-17 ? 23-18) to create its largest lead of the set at five points before closing 25-22. Haley Kuperus had a block and a kill to cap a four point run to give Dordt the 23-18 lead.
- Set 2 (25-16): The Defenders turned a tight 6-6 start into a 14-3 avalanche (6-6 ? 20-9) fueled by three service aces and five kills in the run. Dordt's largest lead reached 12 (20-8).
- Set 3 (25-19): A 7-2 burst (8-7 ? 15-9) gave Dordt control. Embry-Riddle drew within three at 18-15, but Dordt responded with four of the next five points and never looked back.
Team totals (Dordt listed first)
- Kills: 49 – 33
- Hitting percentage: .373 – .231
- Points from blocks: 8.0 – 3.0
- Digs: 45 – 41
Individual leaders — Dordt
By the numbers
- Dordt hit .262 / .536 / .375 by set for a .373 match total.
- The Defenders landed 10 service aces and committed only 7 errors behind the line.
- At the net, Dordt tallied 2 solo and 6 assisted blocks to hold Embry-Riddle to .160 or lower in sets two and three.
NEXT
Dordt is 2-0 to start the season and will face Northwest (Wash.) and Life Pacific (Calif.) on Saturday, August 23.
