RAPID CITY, S.D. --- On Monday afternoon, head coach Lauren Torvi Prochazka finalized the 2022 South Dakota School of Mines & Technology volleyball schedule.  
 
The Hardrocker volleyball team heads into the season with high hopes after ending 2021 with its' best season since 2014. Back are several key contributors from 2021 and incoming freshman who hope to push for key roles.
 
"I am really confident in this team and their ability to compete in a really tough schedule this year", said Torvi Prochazka. "The RMAC keeps getting more and more competitive which has continued to prepare us for tough non-conference opponents. It is one of the more challenging schedules we've had and that makes it an exciting time for Hardrocker Volleyball. I know our women are up for the challenge and we are ready to compete!"

As always, the schedule will be tough as the Hardrockers will face 6 teams who spent time in the AVCA Top 25 and 5 teams who qualified for the NCAA tournament.
 
South Dakota Mines starts the season with a pair of tournaments, first heading to MSU Billings to play four matches against Saint Martin's, MSU Moorhead, UMary, and the host school MSU Billings on Aug. 26-27.
 
The next weekend, the Hardrockers close the non-conference slate from Sept. 2-3 in a tournament hosted by Augustana where they will face tough competition. Opponents, Northern State and Augustana both spent time in the top 25 polls in 2021. South Dakota Mines will also take on Truman State and MSU Moorhead for a second time.
 
Conference play starts with trips to Black Hills State and Western Colorado on Sept. 6 and 9, before the Hardrockers come home for a trio of games starting with Colorado Mines and Chadron State on Sept. 16 and 17, before a mid-week matchup with Black Hills State at the King Center on Sept. 20. The month of September closes with trips to Regis on the 24th and MSU Denver on the 30th bookended with a CCU match in Lakewood to start October.
 
South Dakota Mines is home for most of October with 6 of 8 matches being played in their home gym as they take on Westminster, Colorado Mesa, Fort Lewis, and Western Colorado on the 7th, 8th, 14th, and 15th. After that home stand, New Mexico Highlands and Adams State await on Oct. 21st and 22nd, before the month ends with home matches against CSU Pueblo and UCCS on Oct. 28-29 with senior night being held on the 29th.
 
The regular season concludes with matches at Chadron State on Nov. 4 and Colorado School of Mines on Nov. 5 with the RMAC tournament scheduled to take place on Nov. 8, 11-12.
 
Volleyball tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at the link above.  
 
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.