(25-19, 25-19, 25-19)
SPEARFISH, S.D. - Yellow Jacket volleyball seniors Caitlin Templeton and Amy O'Neill gave the fans a show on Tuesday night in their last home game of their careers at Black Hills State University with a straight set victory over Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference rival, the Chadron State Eagles (5-21, 2-14 RMAC).
The two seniors helped the team win their third match of the season in straight sets as O'Neill finished with a double-double after 12 kills and 14 digs. Templeton provided eight more kills and a .250 hitting average.
Head coach, Sally Nichols, could not have been more pleased to send the seniors out victorious.
"Congratulations to our seniors. Their effort tonight was remarkable. We are so appreciative of the start they have given this program as we enter the NCAA. They have set the bar for the caliber of athlete we need to continue to recruit," Nichols said.
The night's match was the team's second win in the last four games as they have just four games remaining in the 2013 season. With the 3-0 win over the Eagles, the Jackets now move to 7-18 overall and 3-13 in the RMAC.
Quick starts to each set was the theme for the Yellow Jackets that led them to winning by six points in all three. Offensively, to add to the 20 kills of O'Neill and Templeton, sophomore middle-hitter Shelby Mayer hit home seven more kills on 18 attacks with just two errors to give her a team-high .278 hitting average. Mayer also had a match-high four solo blocks, which included a game-ending block and kill to end the game and secure the win.
The Yellow Jackets, who came into the night ranked fourth in the nation in blocks, finished with seven total blocks. Lead blocker in the RMAC, junior Holly Hamlin, finished with two more blocks to go with three kills.
The defensive effort for the Jackets continued with the play of junior libero, Kelsey Olson, who dug out 22 attacks. Redshirt freshman, Lacy Stevens, again made it to double figures to add to the defensive effort with 10 digs. Freshman setter, Brynn Eckhardt, finished with 29 of her team's 31 assists and added five digs.
The Yellow Jackets consistency proved to be the difference in the night as they improved their hitting errors in each of the three sets after having seven in set one, five in set two, and zero errors in set three. Set three was their best set on the night after going 10-of-42 with no errors for an average of .238.
The Eagles did just the opposite committing a total of 26 hitting errors and had a .086 hitting average as a team. CSC's Erika Roybal led her team with nine kills. LIbero Alyssa Bauer had 23 digs and setter Justine Ackle finished with 28 assists.
The Jackets will continue their season as they go on the road for their final four games beginning with UC-Colorado Springs (10-13, 6-9) on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2013 at 7 p.m. MT.
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