SPEARFISH, S.D.- The Black Hills State Yellow Jackets fall to Colorado Christian in their home opener 3-0. CCU got out to early leads in each of the first two sets and BHSU was unable to come back from them. BHSU had a chance to send it to a fourth set but was unable to close out the third set. The Yellow Jackets were led by Randi Wellhoefer and Emily Freeland who combined for 17 kills and 14 digs.
 
QUICK DETAILS
Score: Black Hills State 0, Colorado Christian 3
Team Records: Black Hills State (4-7 (1-2 RMAC)), Colorado Christian (8-3 (3-0 RMAC))
Attendance: 237
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• BHSU and Christian started the first set by trading blows with no team gaining a big lead. The biggest lead of the match early was when CCU took a 12-9 lead on a block. After a Yellow Jacket kill, the Cougars would win seven in a row to take a 19-10 lead. BHSU would win four of the next six points including a kill by Freeland, but Janelle Deboer would end the set with a kill to give CCU the 25-16 win and take a 1-0 lead in the match
• Christian won ten of the first 13 points to begin the second set and take a 10-3 lead early. BHSU tried to use six CCU attack errors to come back in this match getting this set as close as 15-11 and kept it at four until it got to 17-13 with a block and kill from Carsyn Mettler. Christian would answer by going on a 5-1 run with two kills from Connelly Kilgore. The Yellow Jackets got to 18 points before CCU ended the second set with a kill to take a 2-0 lead.
• The third set was the definition of back and forth. There were 15 total lead changes in the set. After each team split the first ten points, CCU would win five of the next seven to take an early 10-7 lead. BHSU would go on a 6-1 run with three Wellhoefer kills to retake the lead at 13-11. Christian won three in a row and then another two points to take the lead back at 16-15 before BHSU won three in a row with three kills from Freeland, Izabel Abril, and Peyton McLeod to go on top 18-16. The Cougars grabbed four of the next five points and retook the advantage 20-19 before the Yellow Jackets answered with three kills in a row from Abril to jump back on top at 22-20. CCU's Suzanna Conner got three kills in a row after a service error to help the Cougars pull ahead 24-22 before the Yellow Jackets won two to tie it at 24-24. Kilgore would get a kill and then after a long rally, CCU would get a block to secure the 26-24 set win and the match at 3-0.

 
BLACK HILLS STATE STATISTICAL LEADERS
Randi Wellhoefer: 9 kills, 5 digs
Emily Freeland: 8 kills, 9 digs
Ellie Thomas: 10 digs
 
UP NEXT
Black Hills State will stay in A2 Arena and face the CSU Pueblo ThunderWolves at 5:30 PM tomorrow night. Note: if you show your BHSU Football ticket at the entrance of A2 Arena you can get into the volleyball game for free.
 
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