SPEARFISH, S.D. – After being down 1-0 in the match, the Yellow Jackets came back to win three straight sets to defeat Chadron State, 3-1. Black Hills State won by scores of 22-25, 25-13, 25-21, and 25-18.
"We played a very consistent match," said head coach
Kristin Carmichael. "Our offense was very balanced and effective, and our blocking was a weapon. We served very aggressively and got them out of system."
The first set started as a back-and-forth affair, with neither team setting a substantial lead. Kills by
Makayla Bell and
Carisa Becerra knotted up the score, 11-11, to help the Yellow Jackets find a rhythm to go on a 6-2 run. Chadron answered back with a successful run to take a 22-20 lead and eventually went on to take the initial set, 25-22, to lead the match.
The Green and Gold attacked early in the second set, leading the Eagles, 7-3. Service aces by
Ellise Lech and
Valerie Blake and a kill from
Jadie DeLange kept the Yellow Jackets' momentum going. Black Hills State then went on a 5-2 run to advance their lead. A kill by DeLange punched the Yellow Jackets a 25-13 second set victory to tie the match, 1-1.
Black Hills State carried over that same energy into the third set taking a 7-6 lead over Chadron State, until the Eagles used a 4-1 run to take the lead. Back-to-back kills from DeLange and Bell put the Yellow Jackets ahead, 15-14. The Green and Gold were able to stay ahead of the Eagles to take a 25-21 third set victory.
Back-to-back kills for DeLange pushed the Yellow Jackets ahead, 6-5, in the third set. An attack error by Chadron tied up the set, 12-12, until the Green and Gold went on a 7-1 run to get a substantial lead. A kill from
Ellise Lech set up by
Laurel Lech let the Yellow Jackets take the set, and the match, 3-1.
"I was very pleased with everyone's effort tonight and it was a true team win. It feels great to get a rival conference win," said Carmichael.
Ellise Lech recorded a season high of 16 kills and 22 digs for her third double-double of the season.
Laurel Lech also recorded a season high of 46 kills in tonight's win.
Black Hills State will be back for the final game of the season on Nov. 2, to go for a season series sweep over conference rival South Dakota Mines. Game time is set for 7 p.m. on Friday.
