SPEARFISH, S.D. – A comeback effort fell short for the Black Hills State University volleyball team Friday night to Colorado State University-Pueblo on "Green Out" night in the Young Center.

The Thunderwolves, 8-6 overall and 2-3 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, prevailed 3-1 over the Yellow Jackets, who fall to 4-9, 2-3.

The visitors took sets one and two 25-18 and 25-12 before the Green and Gold won set three 25-22. The Thunderwolves took the fourth set, and the match, 25-18.

After falling in the first two sets, Black Hills State jumped ahead 9-3 behind six-straight points, with five of them coming with Sammi Ausborn serving. With CSUP serving, Meghan Sipe secured a kill with an assist from Brynn Eckhardt to begin the run.

Sipe had another kill while three-straight blocks continued the run. Shelby Mayer, Sipe and Eckhardt each contributed a block while the run ended with another kill from Sipe.

The Yellow Jackets continued to cruise in the set holding leads of 17-11 and 21-13. However a lull for the Green and Gold allowed the Thunderwolves to close the gap to 23-22. However, a kill from Holly Hamlin pushed BHSU to set point. Hamlin then helped secure the set with a block.

In the fourth set, the two squads battled back and forth. With the score knotted at 6-6, the Thunderwolves pushed ahead 17-10 before a kill from Sipe and an attack error allowed the Yellow Jackets to slow down CSUP.

Colorado State-Pueblo continued to keep the pressure on, eventually prevailing 25-18.

The Yellow Jackets close out the three-game homestand Saturday with a 3 p.m. match against Adams State.

Quick Hits

Brynn Eckhardt had a match-high 29 assists

Holly Hamlin and Meghan Sipe each had double digit kills. Hamlin had 12 while Sipe had 10

Hamlin had a .321 hitting percentage, a team-high

Mariangel Perez had a match-high 17 kills for CSU-Pueblo

Jordan Bruere had a team-high 25 assists for the Thunderwolves