SPEARFISH, S.D. – The Black Hills State University volleyball team opens the 2019 season this weekend with four games at the Southern Invitational, hosted by Missouri Southern State University. The Yellow Jackets will play Southwestern Oklahoma State and Missouri Southern on Friday, September 6, before taking on Wayne State and Cameron on Saturday, September 7, in Joplin, Missouri.

Scouting the Bulldogs

Southwestern Oklahoma State University, located in Weatherford, Oklahoma, is a member of the Great American Conference. The Bulldogs were picked to finish first in the conference Preseason Coaches' Poll after finishing 21-7 overall in 2018. After tallying a 13-3 league record and finishing second in the regular season, SWOSU advanced to the semifinals of the GAC Tournament.

Returning for the Bulldogs is senior libero Kaitlyn Dillion, who won the GAC Defensive Player of the Year last season. She played in all 107 sets for SWOSU, tallying 621 digs and 44 service aces. Also back are senior middle hitter, Sofia Gruden, and junior setter, Allie Hoang, who both earned conference accolades. Gruden finished 2018 with 191 kills (2.05 k/set) and a team-high 84 blocks, while Hoang recorded 997 assists (9.32 a/set).

Scouting the Lions

Missouri Southern State University, a member of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association, is located in Joplin, Missouri. The Lions were selected to finish ninth in the MIAA. The team returns five starters and 12 players from a team that finished ninth last year with a 3-25 overall record.

Leading the Lions will be senior Alicia Pickett who is a three-time All-MIAA honoree. The middle blocker averaged 1.34 kills per set and tallied 70 total blocks to lead MSSU.

Scouting the Wildcats

Wayne State College, located in Wayne, Nebraska, plays in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. The team was recently selected to finish fourth in the NSIC, returning five starters and its libero. In 2018, the Wildcats finished 22-9 overall and 13-7 in conference play, good for sixth.

Jaci Brahmer was named WSC's player to watch. The junior recorded 238 total kills last season and 121  total blocks and was named the All-NSIC Second Team.

Scouting the Aggies

Cameron University is a member of the Lone Star Conference and is located in Lawton, Oklahoma. The Aggies lost seven seniors from last year's squad, and the LSC coaches selected them to finish 18th in the conference. The team has a new head coach, Brandon Stephenson, after finishing 4-26 overall and 2-18 in league play in 2018.

Setter Katherine Manning returns to lead the Aggies after tallying 659 assists last season (5.58 a/set).

Scouting the Yellow Jackets

Black Hills State finished the 2018 season with a 9-16 overall record, and were selected to finish 10th in the RMAC this year. The Yellow Jackets return 10 players from last year's squad, including senior setter Laurel Lech. Last season she finished with 702 assists, 241 digs, and 123 kills. Five sophomore hitters are also back from last year. Seven newcomers, including three transfers, joined the team this year.

Next Up

Following this weekend's matches, the Yellow Jackets will travel to Lubbock, Texas, to play four teams at the Chap Classic on September 13-14.

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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---