SPEARFISH, S.D. – The Black Hills State University volleyball team looks to continue traveling on the road to take on Colorado Christian and Regis University, on Oct. 19 and 20. Game time is slated for 7 p.m. in Lakewood, Colo., on Friday, and 5 p.m. in Denver, Colo., on Saturday.
Colorado Christian enters the weekend with a 10-12 overall record, after a 3-1 loss to the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. The Cougars now hold an 8-5 conference record and are tied fifth in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference with UCCS.
CCU is led by junior outside hitter, Cali Bahnsen, with 244 kills in 83 sets. Next to Bahnsen on offense is Kylee Wurster with 833 assists. The Lincoln, Neb., native is fifth in the RMAC, averaging 10.15 assists per set.
On defense for the Cougars, Mariela Gonzalez leads with 394 digs. The junior averages 4.53 digs per set to land her in sixth on the RMAC leader board. Alongside Gonzalez, Katie Henry totals 41 blocks this season, five of them being solo. Ashley Brye follows closely behind with 40 blocks for CCU.
After Friday's game, the Yellow Jackets will head to Denver to face Regis University. The Rangers are currently fourth in the RMAC with a 10-3 conference record, and 14-8 overall record, after falling to Colorado School of Mines, 3-1.
Leading Regis' offense is Colorado native, Nikki Kennedy, with 281 kills. Kennedy averages 3.31 kills per set to land third on the RMAC leader board with a .372 hitting percentage. Beside the junior, Silvia Basso leads the Rangers with 952 assists, averaging 11.33 assists per set. Basso also finds herself on the leader board in second behind Mines setter, Drew Stokes.
Kennedy also leads defensively with 117 blocks this season, 13 of them being solo, to put her second in the RMAC. Alongside Kennedy, Kristina Schell leads with 369 digs for the Rangers, averaging 4.34 digs per set.
The Green and Gold travel to Colorado after suffering two tough losses to Fort Lewis and Adams State. With the losses, the Yellow Jackets now have a 4-9 conference record, and 7-13 overall record.
Freshman
Jadie DeLange continues to lead Black Hills State's offense with 145 kills, just 10 more than teammate
Sierra Stugelmeyer. DeLange averages 2.38 kills per set.
Laurel Lech leads in assists for the Yellow Jackets with 570, averaging 8.14 assists per set this season.
On defense,
Valerie Blake tallies up 340 digs for the Green and Gold, in 70 sets. Beside Blake,
Makayla Bell totals 50 blocks, three of the them being solo. Closely behind Bell is Stugelmeyer and Carissa Becerra, each totaling 49 blocks each.
Following the weekend, Black Hills State looks to host rematches against Chadron State and MSU-Denver, on Oct. 26 and 27. First serve is set at 7 p.m. on Friday and 5:30 on Saturday at the Donald E. Young Center.
