GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. --- The South Dakota Mines volleyball team finished off the regular season against the Mavericks from Colorado Mesa University on Saturday afternoon in Grand Junction, Colorado.
The Hardrockers would fall to the Mavericks 3-1 (17-25; 25-20; 19-25; 20-25).
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Hardrockers couldn't get the momentum going in the first set, trailing early to the Mavericks, 9-3. South Dakota Mines couldn't overcome the early deficit, dropping the first set 25-17.
In the second set, the Hardrockers' offense was on point early, getting the Hardrockers out to a 4-3 lead. The two teams would trade runs, with the Mavericks taking an 8-5 lead, only for SDM to answer with four in a row, going up 9-8. For much of the set, the two teams would trade leads until another 4-0 run gave the Hardrockers a 23-19 lead and they would continue to close the door, 25-20, tying the match at 1-1. Vindivich leads the Hardrockers in kills through two sets with 13.
Alessandra Meoni would have eight kills.
Both teams would go back and forth at the beginning of the third set with the Hardrockers going up 7-5 before the Mavericks embarked on a 6-0 run to pull ahead, 11-7. The Mavericks would stay in control from then on, winning 25-19.
After falling behind in the fourth set, the Hardrockers would come back to tie it up with a kill by Meoni to tie it at 12. South Dakota Mines would score the next point, taking a 13-12 lead and forcing a timeout. Trailing 16-14, the Hardrockers would again tie it up. From there, Colorado Mesa would gain some momentum and close the door, winning the set 25-19 and the match, 3-1.
NOTES
Ivy Vindivich had a huge afternoon, putting away 22 kills…
Alessandra Meoni joined in double figures with 15…
Kiley Metzger continued her strong season, setting up teammates for 48 assists…
Hannah Benes recorded 21 digs to lead the team while
Rachel Mau was in double figures with 10.
UP NEXT
The Hardrockers end the regular season with a 17-9 overall record and 10-4 in the RMAC. They will advance to the RMAC playoffs starting next Tuesday. Opponent and location are still to be determined as the result of the Regis-CSU Pueblo match will decide the Hardrockers' fate.
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.
