SPEARFISH, S.D. – The Black Hills State University volleyball team finishes its final home stand of the month against No. 23 Colorado School of Mines and Colorado Christian University on Friday, September 29 and Saturday, September 30. First serve is slated for 7 p.m. on Friday and 5:30 p.m. on Saturday.

Colorado Mines enters the weekend 10-3 on the season, 4-0 in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play, and currently sits in second place in the league. The Orediggers landed two players on the Preseason All-RMAC team in Ellie Monarch and Janice Jin. CSM leads the conference for assists (699, 14.56 average), kills (738, 15.38 average), and hitting percentage (.290).

Monarch earned 2016 First Team All-RMAC honors after last season. This season, Monarch has earned Offensive Player of the Week honors once, and leads the conference in hitting percentage (.385). In 44 sets played, Monarch has tallied 155 kills and a 3.25 kill per set average.

Working alongside Monarch on the offense, Marina Hansen was named Setter of the Week twice so far this season. Hansen ranks first nationally, and leads the conference with 13.44 assists per set. In 39 sets, Hansen has registered 524 assists to rank third in the conference.

On defense, LaRose Currie ranks fifth in the conference for digs with 209 and a 4.35 dig per set average. Currie earned Second Team All-RMAC honors last season. This season, Currie has earned Defensive Player of the Week honors once so far. Alongside Currie, Abby Tiesman has notched 46 blocks with a 0.96 per set average in 48 sets played.

Colorado Christian comes to Spearfish with a 5-7 record, is 3-1 in the RMAC, and stands seventh in the conference. The Cougars lead the conference in digs with 772 and a 16.78 dig per set average. They rank second for kills (624, 13.57 average) and assists (593, 12.89 average), falling right behind Colorado Mines. CCU ranks third for hitting percentage (.232).

Sophia Proano leads the way for the Cougars. Proano earned First Team All-RMAC honors at the conclusion of last season, and was named the Preseason Player of the Year for 2017. In 46 sets played, Proano has recorded 158 kills with a 3.43 per set average and a .311 hitting percentage.

Kylee Wurster joined Proano on the Preseason All-RMAC team, as Setter of the Year. Wurster earned Second Team All-RMAC honors last season. She currently ranks second in the conference for assists per set with 11.48, landing right behind Hansen. Wurster ranks second in the conference with 528 total assists.

Mariela Gonzalez leads the defense for the Cougars. In 46 sets, Gonzalez has notched 192 digs, with a 4.17 dig per set average.

Joining teammates Proano and Wurster, Hope Baldrica was named to the Preseason All-RMAC Team, as well. Baldrica earned 2016 RMAC Honorable Mention honors after last season. Baldrica works alongside Gonzalez, as she has tallied 48 blocks with a 1.04 block per set average.

Black Hills State enters the weekend 6-7 on the season, 3-1 in RMAC action, and ranks sixth in the conference. BHSU leads the conference in digs with 895, ranks third for digs per set with 16.27, ranks second for blocks with 120, and ranks third for blocks per set with 2.18.

The Yellow Jackets are 1-0 against a ranked opponent at home. They upset No. 24 Colorado Mesa, 3-2, on October 21, 2016, making it the first victory against a ranked opponent in school history.

Ellise Lech leads the team with 121 kills and a 2.20 kill per set average. Laurel Lech leads the offense with 493 assists to rank fourth in the conference. She averages 8.96 assists per set.

On defense, Sydney Ederhoff leads the conference with 233 digs, while ranking sixth with a 4.24 dig per set average. Cheyenne Palu works alongside Ederhoff, and in 55 sets played, Palu has notched 64 blocks to land in second place among the conference, and a 1.16 block per set average to place her third in the conference.

Following the weekend, the Yellow Jackets hit the road to take on Chadron State and Regis on Friday, October 6 and Saturday, October 7. First serve is set for 6 p.m. on Friday and 5 p.m. on Saturday.