SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The Black Hills State University volleyball team defeated Westminster College on Saturday evening, 3-1.

The Yellow Jackets won sets one, three and four, while the Griffins took set two. The sets went as follows: 25-17, 26-24, 25-22, and 25-17.

Black Hills State improves to 8-11 on the season, and 5-5 in conference action, while Westminster falls to 2-8 in conference, and is 5-13 overall.

The Green and Gold got their momentum started in the first set, as they led the Griffins, 13-4, after a 7-0 run that started at 7-4 with a kill by Cheyenne Palu. An attack error on Westminster increased the lead to 8-4. Fehrin Ward registered three kills back-to-back to give BHSU a bigger lead at 11-4. Sydney Ederhoff notched a service ace and Laurel Lech grabbed a kill for a Black Hills State 13-4 lead. Amara Spere ended the Green and Gold run with a kill for the Griffins to trail, 13-5.

From there, Westminster tried to battle back but it was not enough as Black Hills State ended the set, 25-17, and took a 1-0 lead in the match.

The Yellow Jackets momentum carried into set two, as they went on a 9-0 run to start the set. That quickly faded though, as the Griffins battled back to trail by one at 12-11. From there, the Green and Gold managed to increase their lead to 17-12, but that was not enough, as Westminster made a comeback again, and tied the set at 22-all.

At 22-all, the two teams traded off points, as the Griffins forced a win by two situation to push for a fourth set. At 24-all, Westminster pulled out the win taking the set, 26-24, and tying the match, 1-1.

In the third set, the momentum shifted in favor of the Griffins. The two teams traded off points until 5-all when Westminster went on a 6-0 run to lead, 11-5. However, the Yellow Jackets battled back to come within two and trail, 12-10. 

At 16-all, the two teams traded off points until Black Hills State grabbed the lead at 21-20. A kill by Ellise Lech gave the Green and Gold a two-point advantage, forcing Westminster to take a timeout. After the timeout, Westminster grabbed a point off a kill by Spere. However, that was not enough, as the Yellow Jackets closed out the set, 25-22, and took the lead back in the match, 2-1.

In the fourth set, the Yellow Jackets grabbed the lead early on and did not manage to give it up. The Green and Gold had a seven-point lead at 18-11, which was enough to hold on for the win at 25-17, and take the match, 3-1.

"We did some nice things defensively, especially on block," said head coach Kristin Carmichael. "We also had several people contributing offensively and finding ways to score. Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference road wins are always important and this one got us back to even in the conference."

Black Hills State had three players in double-digit kills, contributing to the offense. Sierra Stugelmeyer was the frontrunner for the Yellow Jackets with 15 kills, while Fehrin Ward had 13 and Cheyenne Palu had 11. Palu registered a .579 hitting percentage, as well. Laurel Lech tallied a season-high 47 assists in the four-set match.

On defense, Tara Hall notched 18 digs, while Ederhoff had 12. Palu worked alongside Hall and Ederhoff, recording seven blocks.

The Yellow Jackets continue their road trip in Colorado on Friday, October 20 and Saturday, October 21, as they take on RMAC opponents Colorado Mesa and Western State. First serve is slated for 7 p.m. both days.