SPEARFISH, S.D. – The Black Hills State University volleyball team overcame a set one loss and battled back to win set two, however, Western Colorado would be to much as the Mountaineers regrouped to win the final two sets for the 3-1 win in A2 Arena on Saturday night. After holding the Mountaineers to just a .059 attack percentage in set two, compared to a .194 attack percentage for the Yellow Jackets, BHSU was unable to slow down WCU the remainder of the match as they hit .324 and .222 in the final two sets for set wins of 25-16, 21-25, 25-13, and 25-18 in the league match-up.
 
QUICK DETAILS
Score: Black Hills State 1, Western Colorado 3
Team Records: Black Hills State 4-12 (0-6 RMAC), Western Colorado 5-11 (3-3 RMAC)
Attendance: 108
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Western Colorado jumped out to an early 6-1 lead in the first set, however Carsyn Mettler sent down a kill that halted the momentum as Black Hills State scored three unanswered points. The Mountaineers extended their lead back to six points (13-7) midway through the frame but once again the Yellow Jackets had a response as a kill by Brooke Miller sparked a 5-0 run that cut the deficit to one point (13-12). WCU closed the frame on a 12-4 scoring run to earn a 25-16 victory in the opening set for a 1-0 lead in the match.
• A block by Sydnie Tuioti-Mariner and Randi Wellhoefer capped an 11-4 scoring run for Black Hills State in set two, but Western Colorado quickly clawed back within two points (12-10) with a 6-1 scoring run of their own. A kill by Miller ended the run and maintained the advantage for BHSU as they held the lead the remainder of the frame. Two points was all the closer that WCU would trim the deficit down too at 23-21, but Black Hills State closed out the frame with two straight points, including a kill by Miller to earn a 25-21 win and even the match at one apiece.
• After a back-and-forth beginning to set three that saw three different lead changes, Western Colorado took control of the frame with a 9-1 scoring run to take a 13-6 lead. Black Hills State momentarily cut the deficit back down to five (14-9) with an ace by Sydnie Tuioti-Mariner, however, they would be unable to get any closer as an 11-4 scoring run for the Mountaineers closed the frame to give them a 25-13 set win and a 2-1 advantage in the match.
• Black Hills State was the one to jump out to a quick start in set four as a kill by Tuioti-Mariner and a service ace by Abigail Renner made it a 6-2 game early on. Western Colorado evened the score at eight apiece before three unanswered gave the Yellow Jackets an 11-8 lead, however, WCU used a 12-2 run to take a 20-13 lead late in the frame. BHSU cut the deficit back down to four points (22-18), however three unanswered points by Western Colorado sealed a 25-18 set win and a 3-1 match victory.
• Western Colorado held the advantage in points (72.0-52.0), kills (58-33), aces (9-8), assists (51-28), and digs (82-63), while Black Hills State held the edge in blocks (11-5).

BLACK HILLS STATE STATISTICAL LEADERS
Brooke Miller: 11 kills, 23 digs, 1 ace
Sydnie Tuioti-Mariner: 25 assists, 4 digs, 3 kills 1 ace
Ellie Thomas: 16 digs, 2 assists, 2 aces
Randi Wellhoefer: 6 blocks, 3 digs, 2 kills
 
UP NEXT
Black Hills State will make the trip to the Denver metro area for their next contest as they visit No. 2 MSU Denver on Friday, October 18. The Yellow Jackets and Roadrunners are slated for a 6 p.m. first serve in the Auraria Event Center in Denver, Colorado.
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