RAPID CITY, S.D. – The Hardrockers earned a split in their first road RMAC weekend, moving to 3-1 in the RMAC and 7-5 overall.
 
Following that weekend, the Hardrockers have a brief break from RMAC play as they take on regional rivals on Tuesday and Thursday at Chadron State and Black Hills State University.  
 
GAME INFORMATION
 
Chadron State:
Date/Time: Oct. 1 / 6:00 p.m. MT
Site: Chadron, Neb.
Arena: Chicoine Center
Series Overall: Chadron leads 25-21 (since 1995).
Streak: South Dakota Mines Won 1
Last Meeting: South Dakota Mines won in Rapid City, 3-1 (11/4/2023).
Watch Live: RMAC Network | rmacnetwork.com/sdmines
 
Black Hills State:
Date/Time: Oct. 3 / 6:00 p.m. MT
Site: Spearfish, S.D.
Arena: Donald E. Young Center
Series Overall: Black Hills State leads 50-23 (Since 1995).
Streak: South Dakota Mines Won 1
Last Meeting:  South Dakota Mines won in Spearfish, 3-1 (10/17/2023).)
Watch Live: RMAC Network | rmacnetwork.com/sdmines
 
KEEPING BALLS ALIVE
As a team, the Hardrockers lead the RMAC and are 18^th nationally at the Division II level in digs per set with 18.07 and are also second in total digs in the RMAC with 813 which is top-40 in NCAA Division II.
 
BENES IS BEST
Hannah Benes is one of the best liberos in the RMAC, sitting in second in the conference and is top-40 in NCAA Division II with .56 aces per set, but is leading the RMAC in total with 25. In addition, Benes is third in digs per set with 4.71.
 
ALESSANDRA ATTACKS
Alessandra Meoni is one of the best opposite's in the RMAC as she sits in the top 10 in hitting percentage (.313), kills per set (3.89) and points per set (4.44).
 
SCOUTING CHADRON STATE
Chadron State is currently o-4 in the RMAC and 2-10 overall with a current losing streak of five.
 
They are near the bottom of the conference in the main team stats, including points (14th), opponent hitting percentage (15th) and hitting percentage (13th).
 
Despite their struggles as a team, Avery Lacy and Alondra Hernandez are among the better players in the league.
 
Lacy is dangerous from behind the service line, averaging .38 aces per set, while Alondra Hernandez is leading the league with 5.13 digs per set.
 
SCOUTING BLACK HILLS STATE
Also among the struggling teams in the RMAC is Black Hills State as the Yellow Jackets are 0-4 in conference play, 4-8 overall and are also on a 5-game losing streak.
 
Black Hills State is a little more favorable statistically as they are 10th in the RMAC in points, opponent hitting percentage and 11th in hitting percentage.
 
Jaeda Davis-Golliher is a strong hitter as she is hitting .313 this year to sit in 10th in the league.
 
Sydnie Tuioti-Marine averages 6.33 assists per set, while Brooke Miller is 12th in the league in aces with .37 per set.
 
Ellie Thomas and Miller average 4.53 and 3.37 digs per set to both sit in the top 15 among the RMAC.
 
LOOKING AHEAD
After the two non-conference matchups this week, the Hardrockers have just one match next weekend, taking on Fort Lewis on Oct. 12 at the King Center.
 
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.