IRVINE, Calif. – The Dixie State volleyball team followed up a victory over Point Loma Friday night with a straight-set victory over previously unbeaten Concordia University Saturday to win its first two conference matches on the road.
“We lost our first two conference road games last year,” said Dixie State head coach Robyn Felder. “And coming off a tough weekend at the Crossover tournament, we told our girls that conference season was here and we are 0-0. It is always nice to beat good conference teams on the road.”
Dixie State was picked to finish second in the preseason conference poll. The two teams the Trailblzers beat were picked to finish right behind them at third and fourth.
Concordia came into Saturday night with a 10-0 record. The Eagles put up a battle in the first two sets before getting blown out in the third with scores of 25-19, 25-21, 25-11.
“We only had two service errors and eight attack errors the whole match,” said Felder. “When you are playing that well, you do not give them any moments to relax.”
Delayne Daniel led Dixie State with 15 kills and 13 digs.
The sweep was contrasted somewhat by the 3-1 victory over Point Loma, 24-26, 25-19, 25-21, 25-20. In the first set, the Blazers led 24-20, but wasted four set points as the Sea Lions scored the last six.
“It was a difficult thing to watch,” said Felder. “But they regrouped and finished the final three sets.”
After winning the second set, there was more drama in the third as the Sea Lions outscored DSU 9-2 to turn a big Blazer lead into a small 21-20 deficit. But this time it was the Blazers who finished with four out of five points on the service of Taylor Duryea to finish the set.
The final set saw the teams stay close throughout until DSU scored five of the last seven points to get the victory. Again it was Daniel leading the way with 23 kills and 22 digs. Kailey Frei had 50 assists. Sidney Brandon played after recovering from an early-season injury to record 20 digs. Brette Anderson and Duryea recorded 13 and 11 kills respectively.
The Blazers are now 5-4 overall and 2-0 in the PacWest. Dixie State will now return home and face Holy Names University on Saturday at noon.
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