When the dust cleared Saturday at Scott Gymnasium, Jamestown College had run its unbeaten conference streak to six games, still having not given up a set in conference play.
But this one didn't come without a fight.
In front of a loud homecoming crowd, the Dickinson State volleyball team matched the Jimmies point for point, but couldn't stay consistent late as Jamestown came away with a 25-23, 25-18, 25-21 win in Dakota Athletic Conference play.
"They had a lot of energy," Jamestown coach Jon Hegerle said of the Hawks. "It's like (49ers football coach) Mike Singletary said last weekend: 'The visiting team controls the crowd.' We needed to jump out to a lead and stay up and not let the crowd be a factor."
That was tough for the Jimmies in the early going. DSU kept it tight in the first game, even holding a 16-14 lead at one point. However, Jamestown rallied to take a 19-16 lead after a hitting error by DSU.
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The Blue Hawks came back and got within one at 23-22 thanks to a block from sophomore Shaunda Dvorak and junior Lindsay Meyer. A hitting error by DSU and a kill from Hawks hitter Breana Mason got it within one again at 24-23, but Jamestown's Ali Edwards shut the door with a kill.
"That first game ... this match was a lot tighter than it looked," DSU coach Ryan Platt said. "Any three of those could have gone our way. In Game 2, we lost our cool."
But even then, DSU didn't fall out of contention until late in the game. It was tied at 16 when the Jimmies got on a roll and ended the game with a 9-2 run.
Game 3 transpired similar in fashion. Tied 21-21, hitting errors hurt the Hawks and the Jimmies scored the final four points to finish off the sweep.
"It wasn't always liked that," Hegerle said, noting how his team struggled to finish off matches early on. "We've talked about what we need to do at the end of the game."
Karen Almedia had nine kills to lead DSU. Dickinson native Sasha Bruels had 14 digs for the Hawks, who dropped to 7-11 overall and 4-2 in the DAC.
Jamestown (12-7, 6-0) was led by Edwards' eight kills. Williston native Kayla Fee added 30 assists.
Jimmies freshman Katie Zent, a Richardton-Taylor High School graduate, is the team's starting middle hitter. She finished with three kills, a block and a dig.
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Zent, who was an all-state outside hitter in high school, said she's still adjusting.
"It's definitely different," Zent said. "It's a challenge, but it's where I can most help the team."
JC 25 25 25 -- 3
DSU 23 18 21 -- 0
Kills: JC, Ali Edwards 8, Shannon Fee 7, Kayla Fee 6, Allison Church 5. DSU, Karen Almeida 9, Jennifer Hartman 4, Lindsay Meyer 3.
Blocks: JC, Katie Fediuk 5. DSU, Crystal Franklin 5, Breana Mason 4, Shaunda Dvorak 4.
Aces: JC, Samantha Revering 2, K. Fee 2, Church 2. DSU, Meyer, Abrahamson, Christal Lara, Bree-Anna Slykhuis.
Digs: JC, Revering 15, Jada Meiklejohn 11, Edwards 10. DSU, Sasha Bruels 14, Shelby Thirsk 11, Abrahamson 10.
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Assists: JC, K. Fee 30. DSU, Abrahamson 43, Christal Lara 36.
Records: JC 12-7 overall, 6-0 DAC. DSU, 7-11, 4-2 DAC.
