RAPID CITY, S.D. --- The South Dakota Mines volleyball team has now won four straight RMAC contests after picking up two victories last week. The Hardrockers now look to hold serve at home as they meet with Colorado School of Mines and MSU Denver Friday and Saturday at home.
GAME INFORMATION
Colorado School of Mines
Date/Time: Oct. 13 / 6:00 p.m. MT
Site: Rapid City, S.D.
Arena: King Center
Series Overall: Colorado School of Mines leads 9-1.
Streak: Colorado School of Mines Won 5
Series at South Dakota Mines: Colorado School of Mines leads 4-0.
Streak at South Dakota Mines: Colorado School of Mines Won 4
Last Meeting: Colorado School of Mines won in Golden, 3-0 (11/5/2022).
Watch Live: RMAC Network | www.rmacnetwork.com/sdmines
MSU Denver
Date/Time: Oct. 14 / 3:00 p.m. MT
Site: Rapid City, S.D.
Arena: King Center
Series Overall: MSU Denver leads 8-1.
Streak: MSU Denver Won 3
Series at South Dakota Mines: MSU Denver leads 3-1.
Streak at South Dakota Mines: MSU Denver Won 1
Last Meeting: MSU Denver Won in Denver, 3-0 (9/30/2022).
Watch Live: RMAC Network | www.rmacnetwork.com/sdmines
BALANCED ATTACK
Against Fort Lewis, the Hardrockers spread the wealth with
Alessandra Meoni,
Annelise Larson and
Paisley Gibson each recording 8+ kills and hitting over .333. It isn't always them, however, as
Ivy Vindivich,
Jenna Curtis and
Kiera Walsh are in the mix too.
SOPHOMORE STUD
The DS/Libero for the Hardrockers is
Hannah Benes and she has been at the top of her game all season. Benes is second in NCAA Division II in aces per set, averaging .72 while she is also second in the RMAC in in digs, averaging 4.89 per set.
RETURNING SETTER
Kiley Metzger split time in the most recent match with
Ellison Spencer after recently missing a couple of matches. One of the best setters in the RMAC, Metzger will be relied upon heavily to be able to continue to setup the hitters with good passes.
PROTECTING HOME COURT
In three games at home thus far this season, the Hardrockers have not only come away with wins all three, but have been dominant, winning the three matchups in a combined 12 sets, with only the CSU Pueblo matchup going to 5.
STRONG START
South Dakota Mines has gotten out to a great start in RMAC play, after falling in their first two matches, they have since won four straight, getting out to the best start in its RMAC history at 4-2. The Hardrockers look to add to that with a pair of historically tough opponents in Colorado School of Mines and MSU Denver.
SCOUTING COLORADO SCHOOL OF MINES
Historically one of the top teams in the RMAC, Colorado School of Mines is not off to its best start in recent memory as they are 8-7 overall with a 2-3 RMAC record.
Despite their slow start, there is plenty of talent and theat begins ith Presley Powell. Powell, a freshman from Katy, Texas has already emerged as one of the top setters in the RMAC, averaging 10.66 assists per set and having made just 20 errors to go with 618 assists thus far.
Rose Stuewe returns as a 2022 RMAC First Team All-Conference selection and is their top hitter, averaging 3.29 kills per set.
The Orediggers seem to always have a bunch of big hitters and that is no different this year as they are fourth in the conference in hitting percentage and kills per set, however it is their defense that currently ranks middle of the pack, sitting in 10th in the RMAC in digs per set and 7th in blocks per set.
SCOUTING MSU Denver
The Roadrunners of MSU Denver are a strong side once again this season, after being in the top-5 nationally for much of 2022, they are currently ranked 7th in the most recent AVCA Poll.
Their middles are tough to get by with Ember Canty, Mikayla McClinton, and Maddy Williams all averaging over a block per set to help MSU Denver lead the nation in blocks.
Rylee Hladky returns for her senior year after being named RMAC Player of the Year in 2022. Riley Anderson (Second Team All-Conference) and her make a dangerous pair of outsides when both are roaming the floor, as Anderson has taken the charge this year, averaging 4.02 kills per set to sit second in the RMAC and is there in points as well, all while hitting over .300.
LOOKING AHEAD
Following this week, the Hardrockers have a visit to Black Hills State scheduled on Tuesday, Oct. 17 while New Mexico Highlands is on tap on Saturday, Oct. 21st.
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 13 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.
