RAPID CITY, S.D. --- The South Dakota Mines volleyball team starts the season with a tournament this weekend in Billings Montana. The team goes into this season with high expectations going into the fourth year of the
Lauren Torvi Prochazka era.
The volleyball team brings back much of the roster from last year including the top 5 in kills, digs, blocks, and assists. In all, the team brings back 17 players with experience at South Dakota Mines. In addition to that, the Hardrockers bring in four freshmen who will push for time.
The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference tabbed
Jacey Koethe,
Shyann Bastian, and
Lily Bartling as the players to watch for SD Mines on Wednesday, and for good reason. Koethe led the team in kills and blocks in 2020 with 152, and 59, good for 10th in the RMAC in Kills, and tied for 2nd in blocks. Bastian finished the season 2nd on the team in assists with 205, in addition to being near the team lead in digs and kills. Bartling had a strong season as well finishing in the top 3 on the team in kills and blocks.
In addition to those three, the SD Mines volleyball team brings back other on and off-court leaders in Dejah Behrand,
Kiley Metzger,
Claire Smith,
Anna Thomas,
Chelsea Brewster, and
Kassie Luce among others. In addition,
AJ Harrell has impressed early as one of the newcomers. There are high expectations for this group, "this season will be a great test of our experience and leadership said Torvi Prochazka. I really feel that this is THE group of women to truly compete at the RMAC championship level, and I'd want to go into battle with them any day."
The opening tournament will provide a good barometer for the team, with a pair of teams from the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference, and Montana State University Billings who always give a battle to the Hardrockers. "The first tournament of the year is always so much fun because you have very little context to who your opponents are, said Torvi Prochazka, we are simply going into it trying to be the best volleyball team we are capable of being. I'm excited for us to see some solid teams early and challenge us the way we need."
The South Dakota Mines volleyball team opens its season with a pair of games on Friday, and a pair of games on Saturday, taking on Bemidji State University, and Saint Martin's University on Friday at 11:00 A.M., and 3:00 P.M., with Minnesota State University Moorhead, and Montana State University Billing on the docket for Saturday at 2:00, and 6:00 P.M.
All matches will be available via live stream through the host Montana State University Billings. That information is available on the Women's Volleyball Schedule at www.gorockers.com.
