RAPID CITY, S.D. --- The South Dakota Mines volleyball team was fired up and came ready to play, defeating the Cougars from Colorado Christian University Friday night at the King Center. The Hardrockers would go on to sweep the Cougars 3-0 (25-14; 25-16; 25-18) to earn their eighth RMAC win and all but secure a spot in the RMAC playoffs in a couple of weeks.
The Hardrockers are now 8-3 in the conference and 15-8 overall this season.
The win was a milestone for head coach,
Lauren Prochazka who has now reached the century mark in career wins as a a head coach between her time at the University of Minnesota Morris and South Dakota Mines.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Hardrockers took an early lead 10-4 in the first set on two monster kills by
Ivy Vindivich, but the Cougars clawed their way back in, tying the set 14-14. After that, the Hardrockers would dominate, finishing on an 11-0 run to take the first set, 25-14.
Jenna Curtis led the way in the first set for the Hardrockers with 5 kills, while
Kiley Metzger had nine assists.
Josey Wickersham served up three aces for the 'Rockers.
In the second set, the Hardrockers would take an early 10-5 lead over the Cougars. CCU would bring the lead down to three but two kills by Vindivich and one by
Kiera Walsh gave the Hardrockers a six-point lead 14-8. South Dakota Mines would take a nine-point lead, 23-14, and end up winning the set 25-16.
Alessandra Meoni and Curtis each had four kills in the set. Metzger dished up 11 assists.
South Dakota Mines was tested early in the third set but would gain an 11-7 lead on a Vindivich kill. The Hardrockers would keep the pressure on the Cougars leading 20-16 on a kill by
Paisley Gibson who came on strong in relief of Curtis in the match. SDM would finish the set, winning seven out of the last nine points to win the set 25-18 and take the match 3-0.
NOTES
Ivy Vindivich would lead the offense with 11 kills...
Paisley Gibson had a strong performance in relief, picking up eight kills and a block…
Kiley Metzger continued her strong play, setting up teammates 28 assists to just one error, while
Josey Wickersham was deadly with four aces.
Emma Grimm and
Hannah Benes both had double-digit digs to lead the defense with 14 and 11.
UP NEXT
The Hardrockers will be back on the court tomorrow night against the Chadron State Eagles as the Hardrockers continue to fight for home court in the first round of the RMAC playoffs. The match will begin at 6 p.m. at the King Center.
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.
