SPEARFISH, S.D. – The Black Hills State University volleyball team fell in their second game of the 2024 RMAC Regional Pod contests, dropping a 3-1 match to Chadron State on Friday night in A2 Arena. Despite falling in the first two sets, the Yellow Jackets continued to fight as a match-high .238 attack percentage in the third led to a set win, but they were unable to claw back in the fourth to extend the match again as the Eagles won by set scores of 25-19, 25-19, 21-25, and 25-13. Leading the charge for BHSU during the match was redshirt-freshman,
Carsyn Mettler, who tallied career-highs in kills, attack percentage (min. 5 kills), and digs.
QUICK DETAILS
Score: Black Hills State 1, Chadron State 3
Team Records: Black Hills State 4-10 (0-4 RMAC), Chadron State 4-10 (0-4 RMAC)
Attendance: 352
HOW IT HAPPENED
- A kill by Randi Wellhoefer gave Black Hills State the first point of set one, but Chadron State quickly responded with three unanswered for the early 3-1 advantage. Following a 4-4 tie, the Eagles grabbed the lead for good with a 4-1 scoring run before it was momentarily halted by back-to-back kills by Carsyn Mettler and Abigail Renner to cut the deficit back to two (9-7). CSC led by as many as six during the frame on multiple occasions, while BHSU was only able to get back within as many as three points on several occasions, including a kill by Mettler (12-9), a CSC attack error (19-16), and a kill by Renner (21-18). Chadron State closed the frame with a 4-1 scoring run to earn the 25-19 win and take a 1-0 lead in the match.
- A pair of kills by both Mettler and Renner helped Black Hills State get out to a strong start in set two with a 5-1 lead early, however Chadron State answered with an 11-2 scoring run to take a 12-7 advantage. The Yellow Jackets were able to maintain their composure and sting together a run of their own in response as back-to-back kills by Brooke Miller and Jaeda Davis-Golliher sparked an 8-2 run which saw BHSU regain the lead at 15-14. The lead changed hands three more times in the frame, but the Eagles ended the set on an 11-4 scoring run to earn a 25-19 win and take a 2-0 match lead.
- With a pair of kills by Miller, Black Hills State jumped out to a 6-4 lead early in set three. Chadron State responded with four unanswered points and a 5-2 run to gain a 9-8 advantage momentarily, subsequently the Yellow Jackets seized control of the frame with an 11-2 run that was sparked by a kill by Emily Freeland and capped by back-to-back kills by Mettler as BHSU ran out to a 19-12 lead. CSC chipped away at the Black Hills State lead, cutting it down to three points (24-21), but the Yellow Jackets earned the set win as Mettler sent down her eighth kill of the frame for the 25-21 win in the set to make it a 2-1 match in favor of Chadron State.
- Despite a kill by Miller to take the first point of set four, Chadron State used a 6-1 scoring run to take control of the frame with a 6-2 advantage. After back-and-forth action, a mini 4-1 run by Black Hills State that saw three kills by Mettler and a service ace by Miller, trimmed the deficit back to three points (13-10). The Eagles, however, would put things out of reach as they closed the set on a 12-3 scoring run to earn the 25-13 win in the frame and the 3-1 win in the match.
- Black Hills State held the advantage in aces (6-5), assists (48-47), and digs (75-72), while Chadron State held the edge in points (69.0-61.0), kills (56-51), and blocks (8-4).
BLACK HILLS STATE STATISTICAL LEADERS
Carsyn Mettler: 18 kills (.375 attack percentage), 8 digs, 1 block
Brooke Miller: 13 kills, 10 digs, 3 assists, 3 aces, 2 blocks
Sydnie Tuioti-Mariner: 28 assists, 11 digs, 1 ace
Ellie Thomas: 26 digs, 2 assists, 1 ace
UP NEXT
Black Hills State will remain at home next weekend as they continue their current 4-game homestand when they host Fort Lewis on Friday, October 11. The Yellow Jackets and Skyhawks are slated for a 6 p.m. first serve inside of A2 Arena as the teams return to RMAC play.
