Box Score SPEARFISH, S.D. – The Black Hills State University volleyball team lost, 3-1, to Westminster in its home opener to kick off conference play.  The Griffins won by scores of 25-17, 25-18, 19-25, and 25-20.
 
"It was disappointing that for the first home game we let our inconsistencies and inexperience show," said head coach Kristin Carmichael.  "But the conference is young, and we have a lot of room to improve."
 
After back-and-forth action in the first set, Westminster took hold of a 7-4 lead.   A kill from Makayla Bell set up by Laurel Lech, and a service ace from Carisa Becerra gave the Yellow Jackets its first lead of the set with a 9-8 score.  The Griffins went on a 5-0 run to take an 18-13 lead.  Westminster kept the momentum going and took the first set, 25-17.
 
The Yellow Jackets started to find its rhythm, going on a 3-0 run to cut the Griffins lead, 12-10.  A kill by Peyton Bodemann and Ellise Lech tied up the set, 15-15.  The Griffins went on to take the set, 25-18, and lead the match, 2-0.
 
Black Hills State took charge with back-to-back kills from Lech and Bodemann to put the Green and Gold ahead with a 6-2 score in the third set.  Westminster took a, 9-7, lead, but the Jackets went on a 4-0 run to lead the Griffins by two.  The Yellow Jackets held on to the lead, and a service ace from Jessy Hibl finished the set with a 25-19 score, to give them the first win of the set. 
 
With neither team setting a stable lead in the fourth set, the Griffins jumped ahead with a 5-0 run to lead, 17-11.  Westminster kept that stride to take the set, 25-20, and the match, 3-1.
 
The Green and Gold will be back in action Saturday, Sept. 8, to face Dixie State to complete the RMAC opening weekend.  First serve is set at 5:30 p.m. at the Donald E. Young Center.