SPEARFISH, S.D. – The Black Hills State University volleyball team travels to the University of Colorado Colorado Springs and No. 20 MSU Denver on Friday and Saturday. First serve on Friday is at 7 p.m. followed by a 5:30 p.m. serve on Saturday.

The Mountain Lions are 7-5 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference and 12-8 overall. Morgan Evans leads the way on offense with 875 assists and an 11.22 assist average. Alongside Evans, Alyssa Brinton leads the team in kills with 305 and a 3.91 average. She owns a .207 hitting percentage.

On defense, Natasha Habert takes charge with 406 digs and a 5.21 average. Lauren Brown works alongside Habert with 57 blocks, 11 of them solo and a 0.83 per set average. UCCS was picked to finish fifth in the conference and currently hold the number five spot.

No. 20 MSU Denver leads the conference at 13-0 and 18-3 overall. RMAC Preseason Setter of the Year Brandi Torr is in charge of the offense with 957 assists and an 11.67 per set average. Reigning Offensive Player of the Week Michaela Smith is alongside Torr with 340 kills, 4.15 per set average and a .208 hitting percentage. Smith has tallied 42 service aces as well.

Jackie Lopez takes charge of the defense averaging 4.48 digs per set and totals 367 digs on the season. Alyssa Kelling assists Lopez on defense with a 1.42 average in blocks and has tallied 64 blocks on the season.

Black Hills State enters 4-8 in the RMAC and 6-14 on the season. Brynn Eckhardt ranks second in the nation with seven triple-doubles. She has been a triple threat but is in charge of offense with 552 assists and a 6.90 assist average. Ellise Lech leads the team in kills with 166 and a 2.18 average per set.

Lacy Stevens commands the defense as she has tallied 442 digs and averages 5.53 per set. Defensive Player of the Week Cheyenne Palu works alongside Stevens and has registered 121 blocks, 13 of them solo, and a 1.51 average. Palu leads the conference in blocking and ranks fifth in the nation.

The Yellow Jackets currently sit in 11^th place and are looking to move into the top eight to qualify for the RMAC Tournament. Following this weekend, the Green and Gold will travel to Regis and Chadron State on November 4 and 5.