Jackets advance to DAC title game

By Mike Besso, Journal correspondent | Thursday, November 13, 2008

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Spearfish — Black Hills State advanced to the championship match of the Dakota Athletic Conference volleyball tournament, defeating Minot State, 25-18, 18-25, 25-23,

25-22, in the semifinal round of the conference tournament on Wednesday evening at the Young Center.

The win vaults the Lady Yellow Jackets into the championship match at Jamestown College on Saturday. BHSU and Jamestown College shared the DAC regular season title with identical 13-1 records. The two teams split their two matches during the season, as each squad won on its respective home court. Saturday’s winner earns a berth in the NAIA National Tournament in Sioux City, Iowa, beginning Dec. 2.

BHSU improved to 23-6 overall, marking the program’s most wins in head coach Jhett Albers’ tenure at BHSU.

“I thought we played pretty well defensively,” said Albers. “They (Beavers) didn’t do anything differently from what we expected. I thought we had way too many hitting errors.We made some adjustments on one of their middle hitters. “We knew what hitters they were going to.”

The Newcastle, Wyo., sister combination of Kristin and Kalin Engle helped rally BHSU from a 22-21 deficit in the fourth and deciding game. Kristin, a junior, slammed a spike, knotting the score at 22. A block by Kristin handed BHSU the lead for good at 23-22. Kalin followed with a kill and Kristin then finished off the match with a block.

Kristin Engle contributed 17 kills, 12 assists and two solo blocks. Kalin Engle chipped in 12 assisted blocks. Maggie O’Neill,  a sophomore from Martin, collected seven kills and 23 digs. Annie Grim offered 25 digs and Mandy Brumfield led the setters with 33 assists.

“We changed around our defense a little bit,” said Minot State head coach Johnna Lewis.

The Beavers played the match without Kara Schumacher, who suffered an ankle injury on Tuesday.

“With Kara out, we were concerned about our outside hitters,” Lewis said. “They stepped up and played well.”

Minot State’s Ashley Holmen posted 17 kills, while teammate Nicole Koropas added 14. Suzy Paradine served four aces and produced 12 digs and Shari Dueck recorded one solo and three assisted blocks.

“Black Hills is just a good team,” said Lewis. “They block well. They serve aggressive. We struggled with our serve-receive.”

Minot State finished the season with a 13-15 record.