SPEARFISH, S.D.  – The Black Hills State volleyball heads into its 2018 season led by 5^th year head coach Kristin Carmichael, accompanied with 11 returners.  The Yellow Jackets also welcome five new players to roster as they prepare for the first action of the season at the Tarleton Invitational. The Team will face Tarleton State, Texas A&M – Commerce, Midwestern State, and Southwest Baptist on Aug. 24 and 25.
 
The first match is set for Friday at 12:30 p.m., against Tarleton State University in Stephenville, Texas.  Last season, the TexAnns went 29-6 overall and 18-2 in the Lone Star Conference and won the conference title. 
 
Tarleton State advanced to the NCAA postseason for the fourth consecutive season and lost 3-1 in the opening round against West Texas A&M.  They will bring back four LSC All-Conference starters, Adrianna Knutson, Adriana Darthuy, Hannah McManus, and Amber Strange.
 
Texas A&M – Commerce comes off a 21-12 overall record and finished 18-2 in the LSC.  The Lions competed in the first round of the NCAA tournament and fell in a five-set match against Metro State Denver.  LSC All-Conference first team selections Jaslyn Wacker and Shelley Chapron return for the Lions. 
 
Chapron played in 127 total sets with 155 blocks and 264 kills at Commerce and was named LSC Newcomer of the Year. 
 
Wacker played in 128 total sets and was second on the team in blocks with 138, and second in kills with 313.  She was sixth in the conference with a .298 hitting percentage.  She was named the LSC Academic Player of the Year and was a D2CCA Second Team All-Region Selection.
 
The Yellow Jackets will face another LSC team for the third game of the Tarleton Invitational.  Midwestern State finished ninth in the conference with a 7-13 conference record and were 15-16 overall.
 
Southwest Baptist will be the final game of the tournament for BHSU.  The Bearcats are coming off a 2-30 overall record in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association.  On defense for SBU is senior All-MIAA honorable mention player Bailey Baumann.
 
The 2018 Preseason Poll was released Aug. 13 with Regis University placed at first, receiving 15 first-place votes after finishing 31-4 overall and 17-1 in conference.  The Rangers won the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference title after defeating Metro State University of Denver, 3-0.   
 
BHSU placed ninth in the preseason poll coming off an 11-17 season and 8-10 in the RMAC to land a bid in the postseason for the first appearance in program history.
 
The Green and Gold look to new leadership after graduating five seniors, including All-RMAC second team middle hitter Cheyenne Palu.   BHSU is led by seniors Reilley Baty, Ellise Lech, Carisa Becerra, and Sierra Stugelmeyer in hopes to make its second appearance in the RMAC tournament.
 
Among the returners is junior Laurel Lech.  The Colorado native was the primary setter for the Yellow Jackets last season with 973 assists, averaging 8.93 assists per set.  Lech also was second on the team with 308 digs. 
 
Valerie Blake, Makayla Bell, Peyton Bodemann, Abby Moerkerke, Tess Thomas, and Jessy Hibl add to the Yellow Jacket returners.
 
Katherine Welniak, Sierra Ward, Jadie DeLange, Madison Hoopman, and Mariah Robinson are the freshman newcomers to the new season. 
 
Following the weekend, the Green and Gold head to Sioux Falls for the Augustana Tournament to play Fort Hays State, University of Mary, and Minnesota State – Moorhead on Aug. 31 and Sept. 1.   Conference play for BHSU will kick off on Sept. 7 against Westminster College at the Donald E. Young Center.