SPEARFISH, S.D. – Black Hills State volleyball fell to the Fort Lewis Skyhawks on Saturday night in a 3-1 loss, causing the Yellow Jackets to split their two games from the weekend.
 
Madison Hoopman recorded 17 kills and six digs in tonight's matchup with the Skyhawks, with the senior outside hitter throwing up 49 total attacks for a .163 clip. Abigail Renner had 10 kills on 23 total attempts, recording a team leading .217 percentage. Mariah Robinson, Aiyana Byrd, and Karly Marx each held a pair of block assists. Karly Marx held 41 assists and seven digs while Haedyn Rhoades recorded a single assist and 27 digs. Abigail Renner was effective from the serving line as she led the team with a pair of service aces, with Marx and Brooke Franklin each recording one versus Fort Lewis.
 
Set One (W, 25-16): Both teams recorded a four-score series to begin, with the early stages of the set consisting of long scoring runs from both teams. Tied at 14-14, the Yellow Jackets defended well from the net as they scored off a Marx service ace, a Renner kill, and two blocks to go up 18-14. The Yellow Jackets outscored the Skyhawks 7-2 to retire the first set.
 
Set Two (L, 25-21): FLC grinded to a 7-5 lead over the Yellow Jackets, with both teams exchanging scores up to a 15-14 scoreboard in the Skyhawks favor. A four-score run gave them a five-point lead, with the Yellow Jackets fighting to tie the set back up. Errors got in the way of BHSU's comeback and the Skyhawks finished the set with a four-point lead.
 
Set Three (L, 25-19): BHSU took their only lead of the set at 7-4 off consecutive scoring rallies. FLC blocks and favorable errors, however, gave the Skyhawks a 9-1 series to put them up 13-8. Although BHSU was able to get within two of a tie, the Skyhawks held the Yellow Jackets at bay and ultimately took the third set.
 
Set Four (L, 25-16): The Skyhawks opened the fourth set with a 10-1 lead over the Yellow Jackets. Down, but not out, the Yellow Jackets continued to climb back, setting up a four-score series capped by kills from Byrd and Renner to close the gap 16-10. BHSU was unable to garner the momentum needed to come back into the set as FLC closed out the game ahead by nine.
 
Up Next
The Yellow Jackets head out for a road tour next weekend, with their first stop marked for Alamosa, Colo. to take on Adams State on Friday, Oct. 21 at 7 p.m. Their second leg of the tour takes them south for a 5 p.m. match against New Mexico Highlands on Saturday, Oct. 22.