Black Hills State volleyball hosted their RMAC home opener against CSU Pueblo on Friday night, dropping the match to the Thunderwolves after battling in the first two sets of the game.
 
The Yellow Jackets (4-7, 0-3 RMAC) leading offensive weapon was Audrey Brgoch, who finished the match with eight kills and a pair of digs for eight points.
 
Abigail Renner followed closely behind Brgoch with six kills, a service ace, and 7.5 points on offense. Renner also logged a team-leading 13 digs and a blocking assist on defense.
 
Alyson Louderback and Hannah Lamon played efficiently at the net for the Yellow Jackets, with both players combining for 2.5 of the team's four blocks on the night. Lamon also led the team with 20 logged assists against the Thunderwolves.
 
Set One (L, 25-21)
CSU Pueblo claimed the first point on a sailed-off BHSU serve, but the Yellow Jackets ran the score up from here with a 9-2 scoring run coordinated by four kills from Brgoch, Emily Freeland, and Randi Wellhoefer.
 
Though the start was tough for the Thunderwolves, CSUP turned the tables with an 8-2 series of their own and brought the game to a locked 11-11 scoreboard. Another six unanswered points from the Thunderwolves directed the first set to a CSUP lead, 17-12.
 
The remainder of the set was back and forth, with the Yellow Jackets cashing in three straight scores to pull within two, 21-19. CSUP, however, hung on long enough to escape the first set with a narrow four-point victory.
 
Set Two (L, 25-21)
The Yellow Jackets and Thunderwolves traded the first nine services of the second set, with neither team creating separation until a pair of Freeland kills kicked off a 6-1 run for BHSU, giving them a 10-6 lead.
 
However, like the previous set, CSUP didn't stay behind for long as another six-point series from the Thunderwolves gave CSUP the outright lead, 12-10. Heading down the stretch, both teams scrapped and traded blows and BHSU even tied the set twice more at 16-16 and 17-17.
 
CSUP went on to secure seven unanswered scores to secure a 23-18 lead, however, and led to the second point of the match going to the Thunderwolves.
 
Set Three (L, 25-9)
The Thunderwolves carried the momentum from their previous attack into the final set of the evening as they took control early and held a sizable lead for the remainder of the match, securing the third point needed to put the game away. 
 
Up Next
The Yellow Jackets return to the court on Saturday, Sept. 23 for a 3 p.m. bout against the Adams State Grizzlies.