GRAND JUNCTION, COLO.- Black Hills State was unable to pull off the upset of Colorado Mesa as they fall to one of the top teams in the conference in three sets in the penultimate game of the season. BHSU gave them a challenge in set two, but just could not get long enough stretches to keep the foot on the gas. The Yellow Jackets were paced by
Carsyn Mettler, who continues her hot streak with another .300 hitting percentage and another game with double-digit kills.
QUICK DETAILS
Score: Black Hills State 0, Colorado Mesa 3
Team Records: Black Hills State (9-16 (4-9 RMAC)), Colorado Mesa (20-5 (11-2 RMAC))
Attendance: 467
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The first set got away from the Yellow Jackets quick as Mesa went on a 20-5 run to begin the game. BHSU got four points back as Mettler had two kills, but the Mavericks won four in a row to end the set and hold BHSU to under ten points in a set for the first time this season with BHSU losing 25-9.
- Mesa got off to a fast start in the second set as well as they held a 7-3 lead. BHSU would go on a massive 9-1 run with three blocks by Izabel Abril, two kills by Mettler, and two aces by Elena Atkinson to take a 12-8 lead. CMU would win three in a row to make it 12-11 before Mettler would get two more kills in a 3-1 run to make it 15-12. Mesa would get their run winning eight of the next nine points to take a 20-16 lead with four straight kills by Ashlee Macias. After some back and forth, the Mavericks would win three of four to take a 25-20 set win and a 2-0 match lead.
- The third set started close as Peyton McLeod would have two kills early to keep it at 7-6. Mesa would go on a 8-2 run to make it 15-8 before a nice 3-1 run by BHSU brought it back to 16-11. The Mavericks would find a 7-1 run to make it 23-12. BHSU had one minor run winning three in a row to get to 15 before Mesa took the next two to win 25-15 and sweep the match.
BLACK HILLS STATE STATISTICAL LEADERS
Carsyn Mettler: 10 kills, .313 hitting percentage
Peyton McLeod: 7 kills
Izabel Abril: 4 kills, 3 blocks
UP NEXT
The Yellow Jackets end their season in Salt Lake City, Utah tomorrow at 4 PM as they get one final chance to make it to double-digit wins for the first time since 2019 when they play the Westminster Griffins.
