SPEARFISH, S.D. --- The South Dakota Mines volleyball team battled Black Hills State in a barn burning five-setter in a raucous environment Tuesday night to open RMAC play.
When it was all said and done, the Hardrockers emerged victorious, hitting a pair of milestones along the way. Junior setter,
Kiley Metzger hit the 1,000 assist mark for her career, helping to lead South Dakota Mines to their second consecutive victory over Black Hills State, something that hadn't happened since 2011.
How It Happened - In the first set, the Hardrockers couldn't get much momentum going as Madison Hoopman and company led Black Hills State to a 25-17 victory.
The second set was an absolute battle with both teams answering each other and a point replayed before it was decided.
Morgan Daugherty and
Anna Thomas got the last three points for the Hardrockers, taking the set 29-27
In the third set, the Hardrockers carried that momentum over, taking a 21-15 lead before four straight Yellowjacket points to tighten things up. That is the closest it would get, as South Dakota Mines got a kill by
Jacey Koethe and
Lily Bartling to go along with a double block from the former and
Emma Grimm, before a
Hannah Benes ace took the set.
In the fourth set, South Dakota Mines would again get out to a good start, 7-2 before Black Hills State continued to battle back. The two teams would continue to battle throughout the fourth set with the Hardrockers getting to match point. They would not be able to close it out, however, as the Yellowjackets won the set 27-25.
In the fifth, the Hardrockers would begin to flex their muscles with powerful swings from
Jacey Koethe and
Lily Bartling helping to get South Dakota Mines out to a 7-1 lead. The Hardrockers would continue to push and finish out the set, winning it 15-10.
Notes – Jacey Koethe led the team with a season-high 18 kills and a jawdropping .545 hitting percentage...She also led the team with six blocks...
Lily Bartling and
Morgan Daugherty had 12 kills each...On her way to reaching 1,000 assists,
Kiley Metzger set a career-high with 53, in addition to recording a double-double with 14 digs.
Anna Thomas was the match-leader with 22 digs.
Up Next –The Hardrockers look to begin conference play 2-0 for the first time in the Division II era as they head to Gunnison, to take on Western Colorado Friday 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.
