RAPID CITY, S.D. --- The South Dakota School of Mines women's volleyball team has been on the road since the 2017 season opened back on Aug. 31. That all changes this weekend as the Lady Hardrockers have their home opener Friday and Saturday.
The Lady 'Rockers have played 10 matches so far this season, in three different states against teams from the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, the Norther Sun Intercollegiate Conference and the Great Northwest Athletic Conference.
The Hardrockers are coming home for their first home match at Goodell Gymnasium on Friday night in a 7 p.m. contest. It's been a slow start for the women's volleyball team, but motivation remains high and the program continues to compete and improve.
Friday's RMAC match comes against New Mexico Highlands University, a team that is off to a 3-4 overall record and 0-2 in the conference. The Highlands' leaders in kills -- junior Cynthia Norris and junior Tiffany Matchet -- pace their team with a combined 90 kills on the season. Both athletes are also at the top of the stat sheet for points.
On the defensive side, the 'Rockers will look to keep the ball away from junior Kaitlin Meyer, who leads the team in digs (82). Another player to pay attention to will be sophomore Sierra Foley who is the leading blocker (11) for the Cowgirls.
The Hardrockers will then face Colorado State – Pueblo at 3 p.m. on Saturday afternoon at the King Center.
The ThunderWolves have had a slow start to the season with a 1-9 record and 0-2 in conference play. However, they battled No. 23 Colorado School of Mines in three-straight sets losing by only three points in the first, six points in the second and two points in the third.
Defensively, the ThunderWolves have three players with 85 or more digs -- junior Pualehua Keola (94), senior Caitlin Broadwell (86) and senior Elena Michalski (85). CSU – Pueblo's offense has been on fire as of late, which will test the likes of SD Mine's junior
Alye Wagner who leads the Lady Rockers in digs (121) as well as senior
Mikkella Reese (109).
The Hardrockers top blockers are going be key in the matches this weekend, as
Emily Newton and
Anna Breidt lead SD Mines with 20 + blocks on the season.
Watch both matches for free in HD and get up-to-the-second statistics by going to:
https://portal.stretchinternet.com/sdsmt/ .
