SPEARFISH, S.D. --- The Hardrockers started RMAC play on Tuesday evening, taking on their rival, Black Hills State University.

As expected between these two rivals, the first set went back and forth, with each team matching the other. South Dakota Mines started hot, getting out to a 6-2 lead thanks to a pair of kills by Lily Bartling, and Jacey Koethe, as well as the Hardrocker defense forcing four errors. The Yellowjackets would counter with 6-straight points to capture an 8-6 lead. A pair of errors forced by the Hardrockers would tie up the set at 8 before another Black Hills State run would expand their lead to 12-8. The Hardrockers would battle back thanks to more great defensive play, and kills by Bartling, and Victoria Zagorski. The battle would continue, with Black Hills State taking an 18-16 lead, followed by the Hardrockers pulling even, then out to a 19-18 lead. The Hardrocker momentum would continue, scoring three straight points to get to set point up 24-20, however, the Yellowjackets would come all the way, force a tiebreak and take the set 27-25.

The second set would be more of the same, with each team answering and battling back and forth. Midway through the set, Black Hills State was out to an 11-8 lead. The Hardrockers would begin their rally, scoring four straight points on a kill, and two aces from Shyann Bastian, forcing a Black Hills State timeout with the Hardrockers leading 12-11. Coming out of that timeout, Black Hills State would score four straight points, causing a Hardrocker timeout down 15-12. A few minutes later, the Hardrockers would be forced into another timeout down 18-13. From there South Dakota Mines would begin to chip away, first cutting the lead to 19-16, then 22-20, causing Black Hills State to call timeout. Out of the timeout, Black Hills would close out the set 25-20.

South Dakota Mines went into set 3, down 2-0. Once again the set was a back-and-forth clash between the two teams. With South Dakota Mines leading 7-6, Black Hills State would score four straight to take a 10-7 lead and would continue to expand it to 14-8, leading to a Hardrocker timeout. Black Hills State would continue to roll, taking a 17-10 lead. Trailing 20-11 the Hardrockers score three straight points, cutting the deficit to 6. That is the closest the Hardrockers would get as they fell 25-16 to lose the match 3-0.

"We lost the battle of control tonight against a scrappy Black Hills State squad," said head coach Lauren Torvi Prochazka. "We are confident in what kind of team we are and what we're capable of doing and will continue to trust the process as we prepare for Western Colorado", added Torvi Prochazka. 

South Dakota Mines plays again Friday in it's home opener against Western Colorado University at the King Center at 6:00 p.m.

About South Dakota Mines
The South Dakota School of Mines & Technology is a member of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) and NCAA Division II offering 11 men's and women's varsity intercollegiate athletic programs. The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference is a premier NCAA Division II conference with 15 members, as well as four associate members, located in the states of California, Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, and Utah.