RAPID CITY, S.D. --- The South Dakota Mines women's volleyball team begins its' 2022 season this week hoping to take another step forward. The Hardrockers bring back plenty of experience with 11 returners including seven seniors, and also bring in seven newcomers.
  
South Dakota Mines was selected 9th in the RMAC preseason poll but looks to outplay that selection.
  
Middles:
As with their other spots, South Dakota Mines brings back plenty of experience with seniors, Jacey Koethe and Dejah Behrend leading the way. Koethe was an All-RMAC Honorable Mention selection in 2021. Last season, Koethe finished 14th and 12th in the RMAC in blocks per set and points per set.
 
Behrend comes back as a key factor who totaled 187 kills and 65 blocks in 2021. 

Joining the returners are freshman Kiera Walsh and Heather Jiricek. Walsh comes in as an all-around player out of high school, recording 155 kills, 162 digs, and 123 blocks in her senior season at Cheyenne East High School. Jiricek played at Mother McAuley, one of the better high school programs in the country, and recorded 46 blocks. 
  
Outsides:
On the outside, the Hardrockers bring back three women who played key roles last season in seniors, Victoria Zagorski, Lily Bartling, and sophomore Emma Grimm who missed a portion of the season. As a true freshman, Grimm appeared in 16 matches, recording 225 digs and 121 kills. Zagorski and Bartling have also been big factors, with them combining to play in 51 matches and 288 kills. Bartling was an Honorable Mention All-RMAC selection in the COVID shortened 2020-21 season.

Paisley Gibson, Ava Sparks, and Morgan Daugherty join as incoming freshmen. Gibson is athletic and multi-skilled. She recorded 187 kills and 285 digs in her senior year of high school. Sparks earned an all-conference honorable mention honor at Valor Christian in Colorado. Daugherty, also hailing from Colorado earned an all-conference nod at Niwot High School.
  
Defensive Specialist/Libero:
Anna Thomas is a key piece returning to the defensive specialist role as she has been a big factor in each of the last three years but missed the first half of the 2021 season. She was an RMAC All-Conference Honorable Mention in 2019 as well as the 2020-21 seasons.

Joining her is fellow senior, Kristin Luce, and sophomore, Katie Angel. Neither played a large role last year but could be asked to step into bigger roles in 2022.

Incoming freshmen Hannah Benes, and Ava Brunn join them to round out the position. Brunn is a Minnesota product who was a team captain and honorable mention all-conference, whereas Benes from Illinois, earned All-Conference as well as All-County and AAU All-American honors.   
 
Setters:
At the setter position, Kassie Luce and Kiley Metzger are back, and those two-split time for a big portion of the year in 2021. 
 
Luce played in 11 matches, totaling 110 assists. Metzger played in all 26 matches and came on strong towards the end of the season, recording three double-doubles on her way to a total of 501 assists.
 
Jaden Dougal joins them as a freshman that redshirted during the 2021 season.
  
MSU Billings Tournament
The volleyball team will open up their season this weekend at the Montana State University Billings Tournament. On Friday, the Hardrockers will face Saint Martin's University and Minnesota State University Moorhead. Then on Saturday, the Hardrockers will square off against the University of Mary and MSU Billings. Game times this weekend will be 9:00 AM and 3:00 PM on Friday and 10:00 AM and 6:00 PM on Saturday.
 
Series History
 
vs. Saint Martins

• The Hardrockers have faced the Saints only once in their history. That match was last year, and the Saints won 3-1.

vs. MSU Moorhead

• South Dakota Mines won the last meeting against the Dragons 3-1 last September 9.
• The Dragons have the series lead 5 matches to 2 over the Hardrockers since 1997. 
• The Hardrockers currently hold a 2-match win streak over the Dragons.

vs. University of Mary

• The Hardrockers and Marauders have played 17 matches since 1998 with the Marauders holding a 10-7 record. 
• South Dakota Mines' longest winning streak was 3 matches. The Marauders' longest winning streak was 5 matches
• The Hardrockers hold a 2-3 home record against U of Mary and when both teams were in the NAIA and Dakota Athletic Conference, the Hardrockers were 5-3 against the Marauders.

vs. MSU Billings

• In the short Division II history between the Hardrockers and Yellowjackets, the Rockers are 2-4 against MSUB. 
• In their last meeting, the Hardrockers won the match 3-1 on September 4, 2021.

Gold Nuggets

• The Hardrockers are looking to improve upon their 2021 12-14 finish.
• Jacey Koethe was selected Honorable Mention all-conference by the RMAC last season. Koethe is a senior middle blocker from West Des Moines, IA.
• The Hardrockers were selected 9th with 81 points in the RMAC Pre-Season poll last week.

Scouting Report

St. Martin's 

• The Saints finished the 2021 campaign 10-18 overall and 3-15 in the GNAC.
• Tia Allen returns as a SO outside hitter for the Saints. She scored 333.5 points with 288 kills last season.

MSU Moorhead

• MSU Moorhead finished the 2021 season with a 5-23 overall record and 5-15 in the NSIC.
• Outside hitter Amanda Carlson returns for her senior season. Carlson led the Dragons with 402 points and 342 kills.

University of Mary

• The Marauders ended the 2021 year with a 6-23 record and 3-17 in the NSIC.
• Senior Nehkyah Ellis returns for last season leading the Marauders on the court. Last season she scored 279 points and 239 kills.

MSU Billings

• The Yellowjackets are coming off a 12-16 record and 7-11 in the GNAC.
• The Yellowjackets will look to senior outside hitter Skylar Reed who had 288 kills last season.

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.