SPEARFISH, S.D. – After being on the road for two weeks, the Black Hills State University volleyball team prepares for home matches against the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs and Colorado School of Mines on Sept. 21 and 22.  First serve is set at 7 p.m. on Friday, and 5:30 p.m. on Saturday at the Donald E. Young Center.
 
The Yellow Jackets kick off the weekend against the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs.  The Mountain Lions have a 4-9 overall record and are 2-3 in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference after defeating Adams Sate, 3-2, in the second week of conference play. 
 
Leading the Mountain Lions offense is Alyssa Brinton totaling 128 kills and averages 3.05 kills per set.  Alongside Brinton, Raelynn Edge sits third in the RMAC with 568 assists.  The redshirt sophomore averages 10.72 assists per set. 
 
Jordyn Kinsey tallies 248 digs for UCCS, averaging 4.68 digs per set.  Next to Kinsey on defense, junior Lauren Brown leads the Mountain Lions in blocks totaling 48, with 16 of them solo.  Brown averages .88 digs per set.
 
Colorado School of Mines heads to South Dakota with an 11-2 overall record.  Mines leads the RMAC standings with a 5-0 conference record after a 3-0 sweep over Fort Lewis College.  The Orediggers are nationally ranked 24^th in the American Volleyball Coaches Association.
 
Abby Tiesman leads Colorado School of Mines in kills, with 170 kills.  The junior averages 3.40 kills per set and is ranked fifth in the RMAC.  Beside Tiesman is freshman Drew Stokes holding 555 assists. Stokes currently resides second in the conference, averaging 11.10 assists per set.
 
On defense, Elle Duis leads the Orediggers with 240 digs.  The freshman evens out 4.80 digs per set. Tiesman also leads in blocks with 48, six of them solo, for Mines.   
 
The Green and Gold are entering the weekend with a 2-2 conference record, 5-6 overall, after a 3-2 victory over Colorado State – Pueblo.
 
Freshman Jadie DeLange leads the way for the Yellow Jacket offense with 99 kills in 40 sets.  The Colorado native averages 2.48 kills per set.  Alongside DeLange, Laurel Lech holds 340 assists on the season, averaging 8.50 assists per set and remains seventh in the RMAC.
 
A shift on defense as Valerie Blake now leads with 124 digs for the Green and Gold.  Blake averages 3.10 digs per set.  Sierra Stugelmeyer protects the net, totaling 34 blocks, two of them solo.  Following close behind, Carisa Becerra tallies 33 blocks, and MaKayla Bell has 32.
 
Following the weekend, the Yellow Jackets will head on the road again to play Chadron State and MSU – Denver on Sept. 28 and 29.  First serve is slated for 6 p.m. in Chadron, Neb., and 5 p.m. in Denver, Colo.