SPEARFISH, S.D. – The Black Hills State University volleyball team travels to Lubbock, Texas, to play four matches in the Chap Classic as a final tune-up before beginning conference play. The Yellow Jackets will play Texas-Permian Basin and tournament host Lubbock Christian on September 13, before taking on Pittsburg State and Southwestern Oklahoma State on September 14.

Scouting the Falcons (4-0)

The University of Texas Permian Basin, located in Odessa, Texas, is a member of the Lone Star Conference. They have opened the season 4-0, defeating Southwest New Mexico, Westminster, Texas A&M International, and Fort Lewis. All four matches have been 3-0 victories for the Falcons.

As a team, UTPB is hitting .302. Stephanie Sanchez leads the Falcons with 34 total kills, while Travanna Matthews has 32 and is hitting .569. Analise Lucio has 76 assists (6.91), and Kiera Granado has 64 (5.82). Defensively, Sarah Vasquez leads the squad with 56 digs, good for 5.09 per set. Matthews has 13 total blocks, averaging 1.18 per set.

Scouting the Chaps (2-2)

Lubbock Christian University is located in Lubbock, Texas, and is a member of the Lone Star Conference. The Chaps opened the season at the Oredigger Volleyball Classic, going 2-2, with wins over UCCS, 3-2, and Fresno Pacific, 3-1, and losses to Colorado Mesa, 1-3, and Colorado School of Mines, 0-3.

Hannah Thomas leads LCU with 44 total kills in four matches, while Bradi Marshall had tallied 153 assists (9.56/set). Maddie McGuire leads the way defensively, recording 47 digs, good for 2.94 per set.

Scouting the Gorillas (4-0)

Pittsburg State University, a member of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association, is located in Pittsburg, Kansas. The Gorillas began the season hosting the Gorilla Classic Tournament, and went 4-0. Pitt State defeated East Central and Midwestern State the first day, each by a 3-0 score. On the second day, the Gorillas had 3-1 wins over Western Colorado and Southwest Baptist.

Offensively, Erika Ivkov leads the way for Pitt State, tallying a team-high 53 kills and 3.79 kills per set. Setter Brianna Richard has recorded 143 assists (10.21/set), while Marissa Bates leads the way with 46 digs.

Scouting the Bulldogs (3-2)

Southwestern Oklahoma State University, located in Weatherford, Oklahoma, is a member of the Great American Conference. The Bulldogs opened the season at the Southern Invite along with BHSU. They opened the season with losses to the Yellow Jackets, 1-3, and Wayne State, 0-3. On the second day, SWOSU defeated CSU-Pueblo, 3-0, and Missouri Southern State, 3-2. The team most recently defeated the University of the Southwest, 3-1, in a midweek matchup.

Maciee Morgan is recording 3.0 kills per set to lead the Bulldogs, good for 51 total. Setter Allie Hoang has tallied 168 assists, while Kaitlyn Dillon has 104 digs.

Scouting the Yellow Jackets (2-2)

Black Hills State opened 2019 at the Southern Invite, hosted by MSSU. The Yellow Jackets split each day, defeating SWOSU, 3-1, before falling to MSSU on Friday. On Saturday, BHSU lost, 3-0, to Wayne State, before rebounding with a 3-1 victory over Cameron. Madee Hoopman and Laurel Lech were each named to the All-Tournament Team.

Hoopman leads the squad in kills, totaling 42 and 3.0 per set. Meanwhile, Lech has 68 assists, and Tess Thomas has 53. Defensively, Haedyn Rhoades has 70 digs and Peyton Bodemann has 13 blocks.  

Next Up

Following this weekend's matches, the Yellow Jackets will open the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference schedule. BHSU will travel to Dixie State on September 20, before playing at Westminster September 21.

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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---