RAPID CITY, SD – South Dakota Mines Women's Volleyball goes back on the road this weekend to close out non-conference play at the Rosella Meier UNK Fall Classic.
Series History
The Hardrockers have faced three of the four teams at this invitational. Against Sioux Falls, South Dakota Mines is 5-8 as the Cougars have won four of the last five matchups. The Hardrockers have won the last two matches against Adams State, but the Grizzlies still hold a 6-5 overall record. Nebraska Kearney is 5-0 versus the Hardrockers, with the last matchup in 2018. South Dakota Mines and Missouri-St. Louis have never faced off in their history.
About the Cougars
Sioux Falls is 3-1 after their three wins at the Bahama House Classic. They picked up wins over (RV) Flagler, Montevallo and (RV) Embry-Riddle. Aubrey Gates led the way last weekend for the Cougars with 46 total kills. Maci Lerseth collected 54 digs for 3.38 digs per set between those four matches. Sioux Falls went 15-12 overall and 10-8 in the NSIC last season.
About the Tritons
Missouri-St. Louis also went 3-1 last weekend, as they picked up wins over Michigan Tech, Purdue Northwest and Southwestern at the McKendree Invitational. Alayna Santel led the team with her 42 kills and 3.50 kills per set. Setter Caitlin Bishop is second in NCAA DII with 12.83 assists per set through the first weekend. UMSL went 19-9 and 8-5 in the GLVC last season for an NCAA Tournament berth.
About the Grizzlies
Through five matches, Adams State is 2-3 so far this season. They went 2-2 at the Kathleen Brasfield Invite last weekend. They have played highly ranked competition with matches against #2 Angelo State and #5 West Texas A&M on Wednesday. Hadleigh Richardson is 15
th in the nation with her 4.43 kills per set this season. The Grizzlies lost their lone matchup with the Hardrockers last season in five sets in a very back-and-forth match. Overall, they went 11-16 and 5-8 in the RMAC last season.
This match will serve as a non-conference matchup.
About the Lopers
#8 Nebraska Kearney has not lost a set through five matches this season as they go into the weekend with a 5-0 record. Their best win came against #18 Bentley at the St. Michael's Windjammer Classic. Carly Purdy leads the offense with her 3.29 kills per set so far. Defensively, Ellie Spang has 4.07 digs per set, and Sydney Davis has recorded 11 blocks. The Lopers had a 2024 season to remember as they went 30-3 and 15-1 in the MIAA. Two of their three losses came in the MIAA Championship and the opening round of the NCAA Tournament.
About the Hardrockers
South Dakota Mines has an 0-4 record after a winless weekend at the Oredigger Volleyball Classic. They picked up set wins against Colorado School of Mines, Davenport and in the finale against #14 Grand Valley State.
Ivy Vindivich led the team with her 46 kills and 3.07 kills per set.
Hannah Joseph led the setters with her 106 assissts, while
Hannah Benes tallied six service aces. Benes collected 48 digs and 3.20 digs per set to lead the team last weekend. At the net,
Annelise Larson and
Kiera Walsh both had 11 blocks for the Hardrockers.
Weekend Information
Sept. 12 – South Dakota Mines vs. Sioux Falls at 10 a.m. CT | South Dakota Mines vs. Missouri-St. Louis at 2 p.m. CT
Sept. 13 – South Dakota Mines vs. Adams State at 10:30 a.m. CT | South Dakota Mines at #8 Nebraska Kearney at 4 p.m. CT
Location: Health & Sports Center
Live Coverage: Livestream |
Live Stats
What's Next
The Hardrockers will begin RMAC play at Western Colorado on Sept. 19 at 6 p.m. They will go to Fort Lewis on Sept. 20 before they open their home slate of the season on Sept. 26 against CSU Pueblo.
