RAPID CITY, S.D. --- The Hardrockers played against Western Colorado University in the home opener for South Dakota Mines, and per usual in an RMAC game, it was a battle.
The entire match was a battle, and the first set was no different. Western Colorado started with a 10-4 lead, before South Dakota Mines would begin to battle back, cutting the deficit down to 10-8. A bit later the Hardrockers would tie it up at 11, after kills by Victoria Zagorski and Emma Grimm, along with an Addie Stanley ace. The Hardrockers would continue their momentum, surging to a 19-15 lead. Western Colorado would fight back, getting to set point down 24-22, before the Hardrockers would get the last point to take a 1-0 lead.

Western Colorado came out in the second set with confidence and was able to ride that to a 15-8, and a 21-14 lead. South Dakota Mines would bounce back, scoring five straight to cut the Mountaineer lead to 21-19, before Western Colorado would finish strong, winning the second set 25-21.

In the third set, the Hardrockers got an edge early, taking an 8-5 lead. Another run a bit later would stretch the lead to 16-10. Western Colorado would fight back, tying up the game at 21. The set would be pushed to extra points, however, the Hardrockers would pull it out, forcing a couple of errors, and getting a kill from Dejah Behrend.

The fourth set was another battle, with Western Colorado getting the early advantage, leading 8-4. The Hardrockers cut the Mountaineer advantage to 11-9, after a pair of Grimm kills, however, Western Colorado was able to keep the advantage throughout the set, first expanding the lead to 21-16, then winning the set 25-23.

The fifth set was not as closely contested, as Western Colorado had momentum and used it to their advantage winning the set 15-6, to take the match 3-2.

Head coach Lauren Torvi Prochazka had the following postgame comments, "our ability to be repeatable has to improve." Torvi Prochazka finished by stating, "we need to be better prepared for moments of toughness, and that starts in practice."

Looking Ahead
Next up for South Dakota Mines is a weekend road trip to Colorado School of Mines and Chadron State College on 9/24, and 9/25.  

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.