Box Score Dordt earned a straight-sets win over Clarke, 25-19, 25-21, 25-14, using consistent scoring runs in each set to build and maintain control. Dordt is 21-7 overall and 11-5 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference.  Dordt faces Mount Mercy on Saturday. 

Box Score (PDF) 

The Defenders set the tone early in the opening set by turning a tight 6-6 score into separation with a 6-1 run. Dordt generated points through a balanced attack, getting kills from Joel Van Groningen and Cade Schmidt while also capitalizing on Clarke attack errors to move ahead 12-7. Clarke briefly trimmed the deficit to 15-13, but Dordt answered with another surge—scoring five of the next six points. Cory Kuperus keyed that stretch with a pair of kills and a block assist, and the Defenders added a service ace to push the lead to 20-14. From there, Dordt sided out efficiently, finishing the set on a Van Groningen kill for the 25-19 win.

Set two followed a similar script but required a later push. Dordt again used an early run, breaking a 5-5 tie with four straight points fueled by aggressive serving and transition offense, including a kill from Kai Chapman and a block at the net. Clarke responded and eventually tied the set at 16-16, but Dordt delivered the decisive stretch late. With the score knotted at 18-18, the Defenders scored five of the next six points to take control. Lance Vermeer contributed a kill and combined on a block during that run, while Dordt also took advantage of a Clarke error and a well-placed attack from Kuperus. Holding a 23-19 edge, Dordt closed out the set 25-21 after trading side-outs.

The third set was Dordt's most dominant, as the Defenders used multiple extended runs to pull away. After leading 8-6, Dordt went on a 7-1 run to build a 15-7 advantage. Cade Schmidt was instrumental in that stretch with multiple kills, and the Defenders added points through disciplined blocking and Clarke miscues. Later, Dordt strung together another run—scoring six of seven points to extend the lead to 21-10. Chapman and Van Groningen each terminated rallies during that sequence, and Dordt's serving pressure forced Clarke out of system. The Defenders closed the match comfortably, finishing on a 4-2 stretch to secure the 25-14 set win.

• Dordt hit .385 as a team compared to .137 for Clarke
• The Defenders recorded 38 kills to Clarke's 33 and committed fewer errors
• Dordt controlled the match with key mid-set and late-set runs in all three frames

Dordt Individual Leaders

• Cade Schmidt: 12 kills, .357 hitting
• Joel Van Groningen: 11 kills
• Cory Kuperus: 5 kills, key contributions during scoring runs
• Kai Chapman: 14 assists, offense facilitator
• Lance Vermeer: 24 assists, multiple key plays in second-set run