SPEARFISH, S.D.—The Black Hills State University volleyball team set the tone from the get-go in their match up with Colorado Mesa University at the Young Center on Saturday evening. The Yellow Jackets knew a better display than their 3-0 loss to Westminster yesterday was warranted if they wanted to compete with the Mavericks.
BHSU took a 1-0 match lead before the Mavericks stormed back with three-consecutive set wins to secure a 3-1 victory. The loss drops the Yellow Jackets to 7-16, 4-11 RMAC while Colorado Mesa improves to 14-9, 12-3 RMAC.
Colorado Mesa 3, Yellow Jackets 1
The Mavericks took a brief 1-0 lead before the Yellow Jackets took control the remainder of set one. A pair of Shelby Mayer kills helped BHSU jump to a 5-2 lead before Colorado Mesa generated a brief run.
Hattie Gianinetti registered three kills to help the Mavericks tie BHSU 7-7. That was the last time Colorado Mesa got even with the Yellow Jackets. Danielle Torpey, Fehrin Ward, Brynn Eckhardt, Kenzie Kazmer and Sierra Stugelmeyer each contributed kills the rest of the way to help BHSU notch a 25-19 win in set one.
BHSU took a 6-7 lead in set two off a Mayer service ace, but things escalated for them after that point. Audrey Steinkirchner notched three kills to help propel Colorado Mesa to a 15-8 lead. The Yellow Jackets couldn't respond in a 26-24 loss in set two.
BHSU failed to attain a lead in a 25-13 loss in set three.
The Mavericks jumped to a 5-1 lead in set four, thanks to Steinkirchner's two kills. Colorado Mesa continued to pull away until the Yellow Jackets generated a rally toward the tail end of set four.
With the score 23-16, the Yellow Jackets inched closer to Colorado Mesa to the point the score was 23-22. However, Steinkirchner and Erin Perez each registered a kill to give Colorado Mesa a 25-23 win in set four.
Kazmer led BHSU with 11 kills while Eckhardt added 29 assists. Mayer added six solo blocks, a new single-game record at Black Hills State.
The Yellow Jackets will travel to Denver, Colo. on Friday, November 6 to take on Regis University. Game time is set for 7:00 p.m.
