The long-serving shooter, who debuted for New Zealand eight years ago after playing 72 tests for South Africa, had what must rank as one of her worst games ever in the second test 38-40 loss to England and is determined to improve in tonight's decider in Palmerston North.
At goal attack for the first three quarters in Dunedin, van Dyk got through a power of work before shifting back to goal shoot after a wayward Daneka Wipiiti was subbed off and Maria Tutaia came on at goal attack for the final 15 minutes.
Van Dyk sunk 18 from 23 shots for a 78 percent success rate - still the best of any shooter from either side that took the court in a torrid defensive encounter, but well short of her usual exacting standards that regularly extend into the 90 percent range.
In New Zealand's 65-26 first test win over England in Auckland last Monday, van Dyk missed only two shots in the entire game to finish with a 95 percent success rate. Of course, she was without the attentions of pivotal England defender Geva Mentor, and New Zealand's midcourt was unstoppable with an endless supply of superb ball into the circle.
In Dunedin, with Mentor back from injury, the pressure on the Silver Fern shooters was immeasurably more intense, and the quality of the ball they received was scrappy at best.
Van Dyk, rarely without a smile on her face, is also one of netball's fiercest competitors and was not happy to come out second best from the Dunedin match.
"We definitely weren't happy with that, it's not where we want to be," she said ahead of tonight's vital third test.
"Look, we've never lost a series to England, and we're not about to do that now."
Van Dyk said Mentor and goal defence Sonia Mkoloma had to rate as one of the best defensive units in netball.
"I think that as a combination they'd be one of the toughest in world netball - they're so lanky and so tall and they have such elevation. They've got all the attributes of a brilliant defensive pair and they do make life hard for us."
But the Silver Ferns problems on Wednesday didn't finish with a rejuvenated England defence. Pam Cookey at goal attack, recently arrived after missing the Australian leg of the tour due to work commitments, was far more effective in her combination with goal shoot Louisa Brownfield.
And England relished the extra space they were allowed in the midcourt to provide a plentiful stream of high quality ball into their circle.
Van Dyk said yesterday that the Silver Ferns were well aware of where things had gone wrong in the second test - and what had to be done to remedy that tonight.
"We definitely have to balance the court better, because we got caught on the same side a lot. And we have to balance the shooting circle and the middies from outside as well - the feeding.
"We just didn't have those links we had in the first test because of the defensive pressure."
Van Dyk, 36, said a good start was vital if New Zealand wanted to secure the series win.
"We have to go out there and actually dominate right from the start - we can't afford for the England team to get their tails up.
"We have to make sure we hit them hard and right from the start.
"It's not going to be easy, it's going to be a battle out there."
