SPEARFISH, S.D. – The Black Hills State University volleyball team hosts Colorado State University-Pueblo and New Mexico Highlands University on Friday, September 22 and Saturday, September 23 in its home opener of the 2017 season. First serve is set for 7 p.m. on Friday and 5:30 p.m. on Saturday.
The Thunderwolves enter the weekend 1-9 on the season and 0-2 in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference action.
Senior Caitlin Broadwell was a Preseason All-RMAC team member and leads the Thunderwolves with 136 kills in 34 sets played. Broadwell owns a .221 hitting percentage and averages four kills per set. Alongside Broadwell, Elena Michalski has notched 297 assists with a 9.00 assist per set average in 33 sets.
On the defense, PuaLehua Keola has registered 94 digs with a 2.76 digs per set average. Melissa Nichols works beside Keola and has tallied 20 blocks, six of them solo and 14 assisted. Nichols owns a 0.61 block per set average.
New Mexico Highlands comes to the Young Center with a 2-4 record and is 0-2 in conference.
Cynthia Norris leads the Cowgirls with 56 kills, a 2.43 kill per set average, and a .155 hitting percentage. In six matches, Norris has made four starts and played in 23 sets. Shayli Schultz helps on the offense. In 23 sets, Schultz has notched 148 assists with a 6.43 assist per set average.
Kaitlin Meyer leads the Cowgirl defense with 88 digs and a 4.00 dig per set average. Alongside Meyer, Sierra Foley leads the blockers with 12 total, one solo and 11 assisted. Foley averages 0.52 blocks per set.
Black Hills State enters the weekend with a 4-6 record on the season and is 1-1 in RMAC play.
Cheyenne Palu leads the offense with 95 kills, a 2.16 kill per set average and a .281 hitting percentage in 44 sets played.
Laurel Lech helps on the offense with 382 assists and an 8.68 assist per set average. Lech ranks sixth in the conference for assists.
On defense,
Sydney Ederhoff leads the Yellow Jackets and the conference with 187 digs and a 4.25 dig per set average. Ederhoff has tallied nine service aces as well. Palu assists on defense and ranks second in the conference for blocks. Palu has notched 49 blocks and has a 1.11 block per set average.
The Yellow Jackets as a whole lead the conference in total digs (724) and total attacks (1,626).
Following the weekend, the Green and Gold travel to Sioux Falls, South Dakota and step out of conference action to take on Augustana University on Tuesday, September 26. First serve is slated for 5 p.m.
