Mitchell, S.D. – Dakota Wesleyan University athletics announced the 2022 Tiger team of the fall semester today, with volleyball grabbing those honors for the second consecutive year after another historic season on the court.
DWU volleyball entered the 2022 season ranked 15th in the NAIA National Coaches poll, and they were ready to play. After the first month of the season and five matches in, the Tigers were in a great place at 5-0 as the first regular season NAIA Coaches poll was about to be released. Dakota Wesleyan volleyball continued to play well through the first two and a half months of the season going 7-4 in September and a perfect, 4-0 to start October before the fourth national poll was released; jumping the Tigers from 15th to 10th in the nation. October continued to treat the Tiger volleyball squad well as their only loss was on the road at Northwestern, as they were still looking for that win at the Raiders. The Tigers continued to climb in the national poll late in the season, grabbing their second highest ranking this season, sitting at ninth.
The Tigers headed into GPAC Tournament play having to travel as they just missed the fourth seed, but they picked up a massive five-set road win to upset the conference tournament fourth seed, Northwestern. Making it the first time the Tigers have beat the Raiders on the road. Dakota Wesleyan volleyball once again climbed in the final national poll of the season to their highest ever, sitting at sixth in the nation (one of five GPAC teams inside the top 10).
Heading into National Tournament play, Dakota Wesleyan volleyball earned an opening round host bid for the second consecutive season. The Tigers were tasked with Kansas Wesleyan, and handled them in one of their quickest matches of the season, lasting only an hour and 13 minutes. Heading to the final site in Sioux City, Iowa, the Tigers were looking to make more history; they just didn't know it yet. After a dominating win against Southern Oregon to open pool play, they had a day off for rest and recovery before taking on MidAmerica Nazarene in a win-or-go-home situation. Dakota Wesleyan volleyball secured the four-set win advancing to the final eight for the first time in program history.
Tiger volleyball posted an abundance of accolades and career standings from the 2022 season including:
- 13 Daktronics Scholar-Athletes
- Six All-Conference opponents with first team honorees Dwight and Else; second team honorees with Hanna Reiff and Mackenzie Miller; and honorable mention selections Mariah Gloe and Tya Weideman
- AVCA West Central Attacker of the Year in Ady Dwight
- AVCA West Central All-Region player awards for both Dwight and Madeline Else
- NAIA All-American honors from Dwight; being named to First Team and Else; being tabbed to the Third Team.
- Dwight crosses 1,288 career kills ranking her fifth in program history
- Else will sit third all-time in assists with 3,733
- Hanna Reiff will sit third all-time in program history with 1,737 digs
There is still one more award to be announced this week with the College Sports Communicators (Formerly CoSIDA) Academic All-America Team.
Check out some of the biggest wins and moments from the 2022 volleyball season at the links below!
No. 18 Tigers win at home over No. 13 Flames
Else's 3,000 career assist game helps Tigers sweep Presentation College on the road
No. 15 DWU upsets No. 3 Midland at home
Pair of NAIA Athletes of the week for Dwight and Else
Tigers first road win against Northwestern in GPAC Quarterfinals
Daktronics and NAIA Scholar-Athletes
2022 AVCA Awards
NAIA All-American Honors