RAPID CITY, S.D. --- The South Dakota Mines volleyball team has been on a roll of late, winning five of their past six games and 7 of their last 8 RMAC matches.
This week they take a break from RMAC play, hosting the RMAC Power Pod as they take on UCCS and Fort Lewis on Thursday and Saturday.
GAME INFORMATION
UCCS
Date/Time: Oct. 26 / 6:00 p.m. MT
Site: Rapid City, S.D.
Arena: King Center
Series Overall: UCCS leads 10-2.
Streak: UCCS Won 2
Series at South Dakota Mines: UCCS leads 5-0.
Streak at South Dakota Mines: UCCS Won 5
Last Meeting: UCCS won in Colorado Springs, 3-0 (9/14/23)
Watch Live: RMAC Network | www.rmacnetwork.com/sdmines
Fort Lewis
Date/Time: Oct. 28 / 1:00 p.m. MT
Site: Rapid City, S.D.
Arena: King Center
Series Overall: Fort Lewis leads 5-4.
Streak: South Dakota Mines Won 2
Series at South Dakota Mines: South Dakota Mines leads 3-2.
Streak at South Dakota Mines: South Dakota Mines Won 2
Last Meeting: South Dakota Mines won in Durango, 3-1 (10/7/23)
Watch Live: RMAC Network | www.rmacnetwork.com/sdmines
BALANCED ATTACK
The Hardrockers continue to have multiple players who can beat you. On Tuesday Ivy Vindivich, Alessandra Meoni, and Paisley Gibson each recorded double-digit kills and on Saturday, Vindivich and Meoni were in double digits with Jenna Curtis adding 8.
DOUBLE-DOUBLE THREAT
Kiley Metzger has returned to full health and had a great week, recording 33 and 38 assists in the pair of wins. In addition to the 71 assists, she made just two setting errors and recorded a pair of double-doubles with 12 and 10 digs. These were her fifth and sixth double-doubles of the season and 23rd of her career.
SERVICE LINE STUDS
The Hardrockers boast a trio of difference-making players behind the service line who can keep the serve for multiple points. This starts with one of the best in the country at the Division II level, Hannah Benes who is currently second nationally in aces per set averaging .71 per set. Josey Wickersham and Rachel Mau are also dangerous back there, sitting in seventh and eighth in the RMAC averaging .42 and .41 per set.
DOMINANT DEFENDERS
Annelise Larson and Kiera Walsh have been strong in the middle as blockers most of the year but have taken to another level of late. On Tuesday, Madison Smith recorded a season-high seven blocks. Kiera Walsh then recorded 9, the most by a Hardrocker in nearly two years. Walsh has 17 in her last three games.
PROTECTING HOME COURT
The Hardrockers have been dominant on their home court this season as they are holding a 4-1 record with their only loss coming against #5 Colorado School of Mines. Early on they knocked off CSU Pueblo in five sets and the Thunderwolves have been on fire, winning five in a row, including beating #6 MSU Denver.
SCOUTING UCCS
Overall UCCS has struggled a bit to a 7-12 record but they have played better since the start of RMAC play, working to a 5-4 conference mark. They have not played well on the road, however, as they sit just 1-4 at the moment.
Joei Barela is 10th in the RMAC in assists, while Nicole Medlin is 15th in hitting percentage.
Lauryn Shockley has played well of late, leading the Mountain Lions in kills in their two wins this past week over Western Colorado and Fort Lewis. Against Fort Lewis, she also recorded 3 aces and six blocks to lead the team.
SCOUTING FORT LEWIS
Fort Lewis is coming off a pair of losses on the road to Regis and UCCS that moved their records to below .500 for the year at 9-11 overall and 4-6 in the RMAC.
Despite being below .500, the Skyhawks have several dangerous players, including Ella Butler. Butler is 2nd in the RMAC in aces per set (.60), sixth in blocks per set (.98), and 10th in hitting percentage (.305).
Natalia Lambos is one of the top setters in the RMAC, sitting in fifth in assets, while Alexis Hobie is dangerous on the outside as she averages 3.33 kills per set, and 3.74 points per set, both third in the conference.
LOOKING AHEAD
Following the non-RMAC matches this weekend, the Hardrockers are back at home for their final home weekend of the season as they take on Colorado Christian and Chadron State for a pair of home matchups on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 3 and 4 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 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.
