Dordt volleyball rallied for a 3-2 victory over No. 24 Dakota Wesleyan at the Gordon and Carol Fosness Arena on Wednesday night. The Defenders prevailed by scores of 25-21, 16-25, 27-25, 19-25, 15-13, improving to 11-3 overall and 2-1 in GPAC play.  Dordt is now 3-3 this season in matches that go five sets.

Box Score (PDF)

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Set 1 (25-21 Dordt): The Defenders jumped out 8-3 and never trailed, though the Tigers closed to 22-20 before Dordt sealed the frame.
• Set 2 (25-16 DWU): Dakota Wesleyan turned an 11-11 tie into an 18-12 edge and cruised to tie the match.
• Set 3 (27-25 Dordt): Dordt built a 17-10 lead, saw DWU claw back to 23-23, then took four of the last six points.  Wesleyan got to set point but Dordt bot a kill from Tarren Spartz to tie it; an ace by Laney Wolfsinkel moved Dordt to set point and block by Haley Kuperus and Spartz gave Dordt the win.
• Set 4 (25-19 DWU): The Tigers grabbed a 12-5 advantage and held on to force a deciding set.
• Set 5 (15-13 Dordt): DWU led 12-8 before Dordt stormed back with a 7-1 finish:
  • Kill by Haley Kuperus (12-9)
  • Tiger attack error (12-10)
  • Kill by Ellie Dokter (12-11)
  • Kill by Tarren Spartz (12-12)
  • Block by Myra Carlson & Haley Kuperus (13-12 Dordt)
  • DWU tied at 13, but a Kuperus kill made it 14-13
  • A Tiger hitting error closed out the match.

THE NUMBERS

• Kills: Dordt 58 | DWU 41
• Hitting percentage: Dordt .074 | DWU .113
• Digs: 91 each
• Service aces: Dordt 8 | DWU 5
• Service errors: Dordt 14 | DWU 7
• Blocks (total): Dordt 11.0 | DWU 18.0

Dordt Individual Leaders

• Kills: Haley Kuperus – 16; Tarren Spartz – 13; Ellie Dokter – 12
• Assists: Carlee Jackson – 33; Chloe Huisman – 16
• Digs: Kylie Beckering – 22; Haley Wielenga – 16; Laney Wolfswinkel – 13
• Blocks: Kuperus – 5; Myra Carlson – 5; Sara Holleman – 3
• Aces: Beckering – 3; Jackson – 3; Wolfswinkel – 2; Huisman – 1

NEXT

Dordt returns to action Saturday against Morningside in Sioux Center.