CHADRON, Neb. – 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 they took on regional rival Chadron State for the third time this season.
It was a tough, gritty match, as it typically is with Chadron State, but the Hardrockers emerged with a five-set victory, moving to 16-8 overall and 9-3 in the RMAC.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The first set went back and forth, but the Hardrockers scored the last four points, including two kills from
Alessandra Meoni, to win 25-23.
In the second set, Chadron State ended it with four points in a row, winning the second set 25-23.
South Dakota Mines took an early 9-5 lead in the third set and held onto the four-point lead throughout the set, eventually expanding it and winning it 25-19.
Trailing 2-1, Chadron State dominated much of the fourth set, taking leads of 9-2 and leading 23-12 late. South Dakota Mines would make a push, scoring seven straight points with
Jenna Curtis getting three kills, but the deficit was too much as the Eagles won the set 25-21 to push the match to a fifth set.
The Hardrockers' momentum from the end of the fourth set carried over into the fifth set. They scored seven straight points, with Meoni getting four kills and .5 blocks, while Curtis added three kills in the stretch.
South Dakota Mines kept their foot on the gas, winning the set 15-7 and the match 3-2, with
Ivy Vindivich putting the nail in the coffin with the final two kills.
NOTES
Ivy Vindivich hit .317 with 19 kills…
Alessandra Meoni led the team with 21 kills…
Kiley Metzger recorded another double-double with 61 assists and 13 digs…
Hannah Benes continues to play well, recording 26 digs, while teammate
Rachel Mau recorded 22.
UP NEXT
South Dakota Mines finishes the regular season at the King Center next weekend, taking on Westminster Friday night and ranked Colorado Mesa for senior day Saturday afternoon at 1:00 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 and four associate members located in California, Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, and Utah.
