RAPID CITY, S.D. --- The South Dakota School of Mines women's volleyball team matched up very well against New Mexico Highlands Friday night during the Hardrockers' 2017 home opener at Goodell Gymnasium in Rapid City, S.D.

Both squads were looking to pick up their first Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference win of the season. The Hardrockers started out solid, but the Cowgirls came on strong in the later part of the match to trip up the South Dakota squad as Highlands posted a 3-1 win.

The Cowgirls defeated SD Mines, 20-25, 25-13, 25-13, 25-22. The Hardrockers closed out the match with 31 kills and a .086 hitting percentage. The home team tacked on 29 assists, came up with 66 digs and notched 10 total blocks. NMHU finished with 53 kills and had a .245 hitting percentage. The visitors added 51 assists, 81 digs and had 11 total blocks.

Individually for the Hardrockers, senior Emily Newton paced the team with eight kills and had a .217 hitting percentage and added four digs and two assisted blocks. Fellow senior Mikkella Reese, who left with an injury in the third set, still closed out the night with six kills and 10 digs. Freshman setter Emma Eckel had 17 assists on the night and junior Alye Wagner led the 'Rockers with 14 digs.

The loss drops SD Mines to 1-10 on the season and 0-3 in the RMAC. The Hardrockers will play host to the CSU-Pueblo ThunderWolves Saturday in a 3 p.m. match at the King Center.