On homecoming weekend, the Dickinson State volleyball team did not disappoint.
The sixth-ranked Blue Hawks swept another Dakota Athletic Conference foe, earning a 30-26, 30-27, 30-21 win over Black Hills State on Saturday at Scott Gymnasium.
"I thought we had some passing problems," DSU coach Dave Moody said. "Otherwise, I thought we played all right."
With the south side of the gymnasium packed with DSU fans, cheers were plentiful.
"The crowd really helped unite us," Moody said.
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The Blue Hawks (17-1, 7-0 conference) didn't have much of a problem closing out the Yellow Jackets (15-2, 5-2) in the third game, but the first two contests were a different story.
Led, in part, by Dickinson native and Dickinson High alumnus Mandy Brumfield, Black Hills State kept the first game close.
Both teams bounced back and forth early until DSU grabbed a 10-9 lead.
The Blue Hawks never lost the lead after that, but couldn't put away the Yellow Jackets. Trailing 26-21, Black Hills State got within 28-26 before DSU
eventually closed it out on a service ace from senior All-American Nancy Nyongesa. Nyongesa led DSU with 16 kills, eight digs and an ace.
"She is a punctuation-type player," Moody said. "When we need to put an exclamation mark on (the match), that's her. (For our team), she's what Dominique Wilkins was to the NBA. She's our human-highlight reel.
"She's one of the most exciting players we've ever had in Scott Gym. I hope everyone who watches her play understands that."
The second game had DSU get out to an even bigger lead.
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The Blue Hawks broke a 13-13 tie by going on a 9-2 run. Black Hills State came back to get within four at 22-18. However, DSU answered with six straight points to bring the score to 28-18 and that's when the Yellow Jackets turned their game around.
Black Hills State used a 9-1 run to get back in contention at 29-27 before Judith Boel pounded out a kill to end Game 2. Boel finished with 10 kills, two aces and 12 digs. DSU setter Katelyn Steifel had 39 assists.
"We gave everything we had to fight back (in Game 2)," Brumfield said.
Said Moody: "This is the second time this weekend we've played a team with heart."
Brumfield, a sophomore setter, said she was pleased with the reception she got when she returned home.
"It's been great to come back here and get lots of support," Brumfield said. "I went to a lot of camps (in Scott Gym). I have a lot of confidence playing in this gymnasium."
Brumfield didn't disappoint in her performance, either, notching 25 assists to go with a pair of aces. According to her, the Yellow Jackets are steadily improving.
"We're almost there," Brumfield said. "(DSU) is a good team. We just have to improve."
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Note: Senior All-American Elizabeth Rodriguez missed the weekend doubleheader with a severely sprained ankle. There is a slight chance she could be back for next weekend's match against fourth-ranked National American.
