RAPID CITY, S.D. – With just four games remaining in the regular season, the Hardrockers hope to get closer to clinching a home playoff spot, and two wins would go a long way toward that goal.
On Friday evening, South Dakota Mines takes on CCU at 5:00 before heading to Chadron to take on the Eagles at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday.
GAME INFORMATION
CCU
Date/Time: Nov. 8 / 5:00 PM MT
Site: Lakewood, Colo.
Arena: CCU Event Center
Series Overall: CCU leads 9-3.
Streak: South Dakota Mines Won 2
Last Meeting: South Dakota Mines won in Rapid City, 3-0 (11/3/23).
Watch Live: RMAC Network
CHADRON STATE
Date/Time: Nov. 9 / 6:30 PM MT
Site: Chadron, Neb.
Arena: Chicoine Center
Series Overall: Chadron State leads 26-22.
Streak: South Dakota Mines Won 1
Last Meeting: South Dakota Mines won in Chadron, 3-1 (10/31/24).
Watch Live: RMAC Network
AUTOMATIC ASSISTS
South Dakota Mines is fourth in the RMAC and 33rd nationally with 12.57 assists per set.
Kiley Metzger is a key piece of this, averaging 9.89 per set to sit fourth in the RMAC.
KEEPING PLAY ALIVE
The Hardrockers average 17.72 digs per set. This number leads the RMAC, ranking 27th at the NCAA Division II level.
BENES BALLS
As she has been throughout her career thus far, reigning RMAC Defensive Player of the Week
Hannah Benes is dangerous behind the service line. Currently, she averages .56 aces per set, which leads the RMAC, and is 24th nationally at the Division II level.
In addition, Benes recently hit the 1,000 dig mark for her career and averages 4.79 digs per set, which is third in the conference.
AUTOMATIC POINTS
Alessandra Meoni has been phenomenal throughout her career. It seems nearly automatic when she goes up for a kill. She is eighth in the conference in hitting percentage (.321), second in the conference in kills per set (4.05), and second in the conference in points per set (4.59). Her kills per set are 22nd at the NCAA Division II level, while her points per set are 26th.
SCOUTING CCU
CCU has a similar record to the Hardrockers: 14-8 overall. However, CCU appeared in the most recent South Central Regional Rankings, which is key to eventually getting into the NCAA tournament.
The Cougars are 6-4 in the RMAC and looking to try to host an RMAC playoff match.
CCU is a great passing team. They rank 14th nationally at the Division II level with 13.09 assists per set.
Izzy Jones is a big part of that. She is in the top 20 in NCAA Division II with 10.79 assists per set.
Lilly Woods and Renee Philips are formidable in the middle, averaging 1.21 and .83 blocks per set. Woods' 1.21 is in the top 30 in NCAA Division II.
Woods and Phillips are also tough to stop on the defensive side, hitting .362 and .343 to rank in the top five in the RMAC.
Shelby Hernandez averages 4.81 digs per set, the second-best in the RMAC.
SCOUTING CHADRON STATE
Chadron State has struggled thus far this season. They are last in the RMAC with a 0-10 conference mark and are 4-18 overall.
The Golden Eagles have struggled on offense, hitting just .156 but allowing opponents to hit a league-high .246.
Despite their struggles, they have dangerous players. Kendyl Kirkwood averages 5.19 assists per set, and Aiyana Fujiyama is seventh in the RMAC with .95 blocks per set.
Alondra Hernandez leads the RMAC with 4.92 digs per set.
LOOKING AHEAD
The Hardrockers host their final two regular season games next weekend as they take on Westminster on Friday, Nov. 15 at 7:00 p.m., while senior day is set for 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 16 against Colorado Mesa.
You can find the latest on South Dakota Mines volleyball all year long on X and Instagram (@hardrockervb), while also following on Facebook at Hardrocker Volleyball. The latest on South Dakota Mines athletics can be found by following us on X at @GoHardrockers, hardrockerathletics on Instagram and Hardrocker Athletics on Facebook.
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.
