SPEARFISH, S.D. – The Black Hills State University volleyball team swept archrival South Dakota School of Mines, 3-0, in a midweek battle in the hills on Tuesday evening. The Yellow Jackets (7-8, 5-2 RMAC) started out hot, winning set one, 25-12, before going on to take set two from the Hardrockers (7-9, 3-4 RMAC), 25-19, and set three, 25-21.

"Tonight was a really well-rounded night for us. Our offense and defense were working well together and we were aggressive in all aspects," said head coach Kristin Carmichael. "It's always great to get a home rivalry win and we needed to show we could play well from start to finish in three sets."

The Green and Gold came out pumped up and ready to play. They jumped out to a 4-0 lead on kills by Sierra Ward and Kindra Cerrone. The Hardrockers came back to tie it up, 8-8, but another kill by Cerrone jumpstarted a 12-1 run which gave the home team a 19-9 lead. BHSU would ultimately take the first set, 25-12.

South Dakota Mines opened the second set with four consecutive points, but the momentum would swing back to the Yellow Jackets almost immediately. BHSU would fight back to tie it up, 8-8, and they would not trail in the set again, eventually winning, 25-19.

The third set proved to be a battle. While BHSU held a lead for most of the early game, SDM would claw back to tie it up, 20-20. However, after a prescient timeout, the Yellow Jackets responded with a 5-1 run to take the set, 25-21, and wrap up the 3-0 match victory.

Tess Thomas notched her third double-double of the year, recording 20 assists and 12 digs. Cerrone had 13 kills, while Sierra Ward had nine kills. Mariah Robinson had eight kills on nine assists hitting an extremely efficient .889. Haedyn Rhoades had 15 digs and four service aces, while Peyton Bodemann tallied seven blocks and seven kills.

Next Up

The Yellow Jackets will stay at home and host MSU Denver and Chadron State this weekend. BHSU will welcome the Roadrunners on Friday, October 11 at 7 p.m.

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Black Hills State is located in the Northern Black Hills of South Dakota, sponsoring 13 NCAA sports with membership in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, the NCAA emerging sport of women's triathlon and NIRA rodeo. For all information regarding Yellow Jacket Athletics, please visit BHSUAthletics.com or follow us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram @BHSUAthletics.

---BHSUAthletics.com---