LAKEWOOD, Colo. – The South Dakota Mines volleyball team continues to push for a higher spot in the RMAC playoffs and potentially a place in the region rankings as it took on a team that was in the regional rankings and sitting with an identical overall record and slightly worse RMAC record in Colorado Christian on the road in Lakewood.
Location didn't matter in this one, as the Hardrockers were on a mission and completed that mission with a road sweep over the Cougars, moving to 15-8 overall and 8-3 in the RMAC.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The first set was close for much of it, but a late 5-0 run keyed by
Ivy Vindivich,
Kiley Metzger,
Maria Bouman, and
Ellison Spencer gave South Dakota Mines a three-point, 23-20 lead, which they would close out 25-21.
The second set was a back-and-forth battle, and neither team really seemed to gain much of an edge until a four-point run by the Hardrockers, with two kills coming from
Jenna Curtis, gave SDM a 20-18 lead. However, it would not stick, as they would go to extra points when the Hardrockers got a kill from Bouman and a set-ending kill from
Alessandra Meoni to win it 27-25.
CCU started quickly in the third set, taking a 12-7 lead before the Hardrockers fought back. Four straight points midway through the set gave the 'Rockers a 17-16 lead, and they would capture all the momentum and close the set with five consecutive points with Meoni taking over, recording two kills and a block, while Metzger finished it off with a kill to take the set, 25-20 and the match 3-0.
NOTES
Alessandra Meoni continues to show why she is one of the best right sides in the RMAC and nationally, as she posted another 16 kills on a hitting percentage of .302 with six blocks and nine digs…
Maria Bouman got her first extended court time of the season, playing in all three sets, and she delivered with a hitting percentage of .417 while also recording six blocks…
Kiley Metzger hit .385 and recorded nine digs to accompany her 38 assists…
Hannah Benes had 20 digs and recorded four aces…
Josey Wickersham also recorded 12 digs.
UP NEXT
South Dakota Mines finishes its weekend tomorrow as they take on Chadron State in Chadron at 6:00 p.m.
You can find the latest on South Dakota Mines volleyball all year long on X and Instagram (@hardrockervb), and you can also follow 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.
