UTAH TECH UNIVERSITY'S STUDENT NEWS SOURCE | March 29, 2024

DSU volleyball starts conference play on the right foot

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Dixie State University volleyball started off conference play over the weekend by going 2-0 on the road against Point Loma Nazarene University and Concordia University.

DSU managed to handle PLNU in match No. 1 by taking the Sea Lions in four sets, 3-1. In its second match of the weekend, DSU swept a 10-0 CU team Saturday night. 

DSU came out rolling against PLNU in its opening set by scoring the game’s first few points. Yet, it didn’t take the Sea Lions long to catch DSU as they evened the score at three. As both teams fought to gain momentum, the most either team could manage was DSU’s 8-2 run mid-set. As the opening set came to a close, PLNU had came from behind and captured the momentum to take set one, 24-26.

“[Point Loma] is a tough place to play [with] a really big gym,” head coach Robyn Felder said. “[It is a] different climate than what we are used to.”

The Sea Lions continued to build off their momentum from set one as they began the second set on a 2-5 run. DSU battled back to take the lead midway through the set. Momentum began to shift  in the Trailblazers’ direction as their offense began to click. DSU never relinquished the lead after an early 7-7 tie and took the set, 25-19.

Set three was dominated by runs. As both teams began the set evenly matched through the first few points, DSU took advantage of attacks by putting together a 10-3 run. PLNU answered back with an 1-8 run of its own, but never managed to get close enough to overtake DSU. The Trailblazers grabbed a 2-1 lead by winning the set, 25-21.

DSU sealed the deal in the fourth set against PLNU as it took the win, 25-20. The Sea Lions gave it their all as they fought to avoid a loss on their home floor.

“[With] what we have been working on in practice the last two weeks, I think we did a good job at bringing it to the court,” said outside hitter Delayne Daniel, a senior CIT major from Pleasant Grove.

DSU entered Eagle territory, seeking its third victory in a row. The Trailblazers controlled the pace of the game and proved they are a team to be reckoned with in conference play. 

“We played the best volleyball we have played this whole season,” said sophomore middle blocker Kayla Chapman, a nursing major from Fullerton, California.

The beginning of set one belonged to CU as it came out swinging and ready to play. It seized the momentum by taking an early lead. The Trailblazers showed persistence as they answered with a 6-0 run to even the match back up at 13. After trading points for several possessions, the Trailblazers showed resilience as they closed out the set to win, 25-19.

Set two proved to be a chess match between DSU and CU as neither team led by more than five points. DSU began to pull away from the Eagles toward the latter end of the set showing their continued dominance on the net. The Trailblazers captured set two, 25-21.

“[This] is really the first match where we’ve really put it all together and just played really well,” Felder said.

DSU dominated set three, 25-11. The Trailblazers had put together a 13-3 run mid set to put distance between themselves and CU. DSU closed the set with a 7-1 run.

“I personally think in practice is where we gain our confidence and gain that momentum,” Chapman said.

DSU looks to build on its winning streak by taking on Holy Names University Saturday at noon in the Student Activities Center.