SPEARFISH, S.D. – The Black Hills State University volleyball team dropped a non-conference match-up to rival South Dakota Mines on Thursday evening in a 3-0 decision during the first of two RMAC Regional Pod games this weekend for the Yellow Jackets. The Hardrockers controlled all three sets as they won by scores of 25-15, 25-21, and 25-15, as they hit above .290 in each set and recorded a .294 hitting percentage in the match compared to .135 for BHSU.
 
QUICK DETAILS
Score: Black Hills State 0, South Dakota Mines 3
Team Records: Black Hills State 4-9 (0-4 RMAC), South Dakota Mines 8-6 (3-1 RMAC)
Attendance: 368
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• South Dakota Mines opened the first set of the night with an early 6-1 advantage before a block by Emily Freeland and Randi Wellhoefer halted the rally for the first of three unanswered points for Black Hills State. The Hardrockers extended their lead to as many as six points with a 4-0 run, however the Yellow Jackets clawed back within one point (15-14) as a kill by Carsyn Mettler capped a 10-5 scoring run. SDM ended the frame with a 10-1 scoring run to earn a 25-15 set one win for the 1-0 match lead.
• A kill by Abigail Renner and a service ace by Ellie Thomas gave Black Hills State the first two points of the second set before the teams eventually found themselves tied at six apiece. Following the tie the Hardrockers went on a 6-1 run to take a 12-7 lead, but Jaeda Davis-Golliher and Renner stopped the run with back-to-back kills. SDM pushed their lead to as many as seven points during the frame on two occasions, first with another 6-1 scoring run to go up 18-11, and again at 22-15 after the teams went back-and forth. The Yellow Jackets had one final push as a kill by Brooke Miller sparked a 6-2 run that was capped by a kill by Wellhoefer to make it a 24-21 contest, however South Dakota Mines closed out the set with a 25-21 victory in the frame to take a 2-0 lead in the match.
• Black Hills State jumped out to a 3-1 advantage in set three before an 8-3 scoring run for South Dakota Mines gave the Hardrockers a 9-6 lead. The SDM run was briefly stalled by a kill by Mettler, which began a stretch where the Yellow Jackets took three of the next four points, however South Dakota Mines picked things back up with seven unanswered points to extend their lead to 17-9. BHSU continued to battle as a kill by Renner capped a stretch where the Yellow Jackets took four of six points, however the Hardrockers secured the third set win with a 6-2 run to earn a 25-15 victory for the sweep.
• South Dakota Mines held the advantage in points (56.0-40.0), kills (47-33), aces (6-4), assists (38-33), and digs (56-52), while the teams were even with three blocks apiece. 

BLACK HILLS STATE STATISTICAL LEADERS
Abigail Renner: 8 kills, 8 digs, 1 service ace
Brooke Miller: 7 kills (.238 attack percentage), 10 digs
Ellie Thomas: 14 digs, 3 service aces, 1 assist
Elena Atkinson: 15 assists, 7 digs
Sydnie Tuioti-Mariner: 15 assists, 4 digs
 
UP NEXT
Black Hills State will return to A2 Arena tomorrow night for another non-conference match as they welcome Chadron State to Spearfish. First serve is set for 6 p.m. between the Yellow Jackets and Eagles.
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