SPEARFISH, S.D. – The Black Hills State University volleyball team defeated New Mexico Highlands, 3-2, in a thrilling five-set match on Saturday evening. The Yellow Jackets won the first set (25-18), before dropping the second (18-25) and third sets (17-25). The home team would come back to win the fourth set (25-21) and the decisive fifth set (15-12) as they swept the weekend.

"I'm proud of the composure and heart we showed tonight," said head coach Kristin Carmichael. "We struggled to get flow offensively, but never gave up. It was a huge team win and a great confidence builder to sweep the weekend."

The Cowgirls (1-11, 0-4 RMAC) jumped out to a 5-1 lead in the first, before the Yellow Jackets (5-7, 3-1 RMAC) fought back to tie it up, 5-5. BHSU went on to take a 10-9 lead and gradually build a cushion. Peyton Bodemann recorded three service aces as the Green and Gold went on to win the set, 25-18.

The second set was back-and-forth to begin, but at 12-12, the Cowgirls grabbed the momentum and rattled off a 13-5 run to tie up the match. NMHU used their energy to jump out to a 4-0 lead in the third set. It never looked in doubt as the visitors won the set, 25-17.

The Cowgirls grabbed a lead early in the fourth set, but needing to win to stay alive, the Yellow Jackets kept fighting, eventually tying up the game, 15-15. With the game tied, 20-20, Ashley Uffelman stepped up, recording kills on three of the final five points of the set. BHSU tied up the match, 2-2, with a 25-21 set victory.

The Yellow Jackets smelled a victory as the teams entered the fifth set. Bodemann started things off with a kill, and the home team would jump out to a 6-3 lead. The Cowgirls would not back down, but a Katie Welniak kill secured the 15-12 victory as the Green and Gold took the conference victory.

A night after recording her first career triple-double, Laurel Lech continued to put up numbers, tallying a double-double with 28 kills and 16 digs, while also adding nine kills. Sierra Ward led the team with 14 kills, while Tess Thomas had 19 assists and Haedyn Rhoades had 16 digs.

Next Up

The Yellow Jackets will next hit the road to take on Colorado School of Mines and the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. BHSU plays the Orediggers on October 4, with first serve scheduled for  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---