SPEARFISH, S.D. – The Black Hills State University volleyball team makes its way south to take on New Mexico Highlands and Colorado State – Pueblo, on Sept. 14 and 15. First serve is set at 7 p.m. on both Friday in Las Vegas, N.M., and Saturday in Pueblo, Colo.
 
New Mexico Highlands kicks off the weekend after defeating Colorado State – Pueblo, 3-1, to push them to a 4-7 overall record, and 2-1 in conference. 
 
Tiffany Matchett leads the Cowgirls offense with 100 kills for a 2.44 kill average per set. Alongside Matchett, Celina Naranjo has 175 assists averaging 4.38 assists per set. 
 
On defense, freshman Elena Rivera makes her mark for Highlands with 170 digs.  Averaging 5.15 digs per set, Rivera is currently third in the RMAC.  Stacy Johnson protects the net totaling 26 blocks on the season, three of them solo.
 
The Yellow Jackets will finish the weekend facing Colorado State – Pueblo.  The Thunderwolves now have a 1-2 conference record, and are 3-9 overall. 
 
For Pueblo's offense, Brooke Schilling leads with 103 kills, averaging 2.40 kills per set.  Grace Hern also leads the Thunderwolves with 221 assists.  Hern is seventh in the RMAC, averaging 8.19 assists per set.
 
Page Heller posts 208 digs for Pueblo, averaging 4.84 digs per set.  Beside Heller on defense, Mallorie Post tallies 15 blocks for Pueblo, two of them solo.
 
Black Hills State enters the weekend after falling 3-0 to Dixie State, and 3-1 to Westminster in the opening round of conference play. 
 
Leading the offense for the Yellow Jackets is freshman Jadie DeLange with 73 kills.  DeLange averages 2.35 kills per set.  Alongside her is Laurel Lech with 269 assists.  The Colorado native is seventh in the RMAC, averaging 8.61 assists per set. 
 
Jessy Hibl leads the defense with 91 digs on the season with a 2.94 average.  Sierra Stugelmeyer leads the Green and Gold in blocks with 26, two of them solo, for an average .84 blocks per set.  Beside her is Carissa Becerra, totaling 24 blocks, and McKayla Bell with 21. 
 
Following the weekend, the Yellow Jackets will be back home to face University of Colorado – Colorado Springs and Colorado School of Mines on September 21 and 22.  First serve is set at 7 p.m. at the Donald E. Young Center.