SPEARFISH, S.D. – The Black Hills State University Yellow Jacket volleyball team let a precious opportunity to get their first home win slip through their grasp losing 3-2 to the Western New Mexico University Mustangs. After coming out the gates hot with a 2-0 lead the Yellow Jackets dropped the last 3 sets to the Mustangs. The Mustangs now have a record of 16-3 overall and 9-2 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. 

With the loss, the Jackets now sit at 5-14 overall and 1-9 in conference match-ups.  The Yellow Jackets are on an eight-match losing streak.

This match was the Yellow Jackets for the taking, but they couldn't seize the opportunity to knock off the second rank team in the RMAC. The story for the night was great defense being played by both squads. The Yellow Jackets registered 77 digs, but the Mustangs topped that with 97 digs of their own. Both teams have had better days in kills, but the Mustangs did produce a .333 kill percentage in the final set, their best of the match.

The Yellow Jackets came out focused and hungry and it showed in their first set, which was one of their best and most complete sets offensively and defensively they have put together all season. Up 1-0, in the second set trailing 19-20 there was a huge momentum shifting rally in favor of the Yellow Jackets that ultimately gave them what they needed to finish out strong and go up 2-0. Ironically, there was an identical moment in the third set where the Yellow Jackets were not able to duplicate that same momentum shift.

WNMU's top hitters on the night were Angelina Pulu who had 21 kills, Bobbi Bayer who added 15 more and Selulia Falealili with 13 kills.  Mustangs' setter, Alyssa Meihack had a match-high 59 assists and 12 digs.  Defensively, five other Mustangs players had double-figure dig totals including Angelina Pulu with 21, Kassie Kagawa with 18, Chyler Imai with 17, Reyna Acosta and Keirsa Pakani-Tsukiy both had with 11.

Even though this was a different game it was the exact same story for the Yellow Jackets. They dominated the blocking game 13 to 5. Shelby Mayer led the defense tonight with 4 blocks. Junior Holly Hamlin was not as dominated as she was the previous night, but she still left her imprint on the match with 3 blocks. Senior Amy O'Neill  led the offense with 14 kills and 12 digs to give her another double-double.

Freshman setter, Brynn Eckhardt had 44 assist to go along with 2.5 blocks in the match. Libero, Kelsey Olson had a game high 28 digs, and senior hitter, Caitlin Templeton had 13 kills. Meghan Sipe contributed with 10 digs to go along with 12 kills. 

The next match for the Yellow Jackets will come on the road at Adams St. on Thursday, Oct. 23, 2013 with the first serve set for 7:00 p.m. MT.

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