RAPID CITY, S.D. --- The South Dakota Mines women's volleyball team will open up  Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play at home this weekend, as the Lady Hardrockers host Fort Lewis College Friday and Adams State University Saturday at the King Center in Rapid City.
 
"We need to get better and that will come with time and experience," said Hardrocker volleyball head coach Doug Tabbert on the season thus far. "There are opportunities for us to get a win this week."
 
SD Mines earned their first win of the season Tuesday defeating Dickinson State, 3-0, during the home opener.
 
On Friday the Hardrockers match up against Fort Lewis.  The Skyhawks opened their 2016 campaign with a win but have since lost seven straight.  SD Mines have done nearly the opposite, losing eight games before picking up their first win of the season this past Tuesday. 
 
The Skyhawks and Hardrockers are tied 1-1 in their all-time series. FLC's win came on Oct. 17, 1986 (W, 3-1). Both teams met for the first time in conference action last season, with the Hardrockers taking the match in four sets.
 
As a team, the Skyhawks have served the most aces than any other team in the league (2.31 aces per set).  Individually, Maddie LeBlanc and Gabriella Hickman are averaging the most aces in the league with 0.48 aces per set.  LeBlanc has recorded a team high in blocks (19) and kills (56). 
 
Saturday afternoon Adams State will step into Hardrocker territory. The Grizzlies are 5-4 on the season and will play at Black Hills State the day prior to their matchup with the Hardrockers. 
 
"Adams State is hard to predict. They can play at a very high level," said Tabbert, who will hope to start off with a pair of RMAC wins this weekend.
 
Friday's match is slated for a 7 p.m. start while Saturday's bout will start at 3 p.m. Both events will be broadcast with in-game statistics live at: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/sdsmt/ .