RAPID CITY, S.D. – South Dakota Mines Volleyball improved to 8-2 with a 2-0 weekend over Western Colorado and Fort Lewis.
Match 1: Hardrockers 3, Mountaineers 1
To start the weekend, the Rockers topped Western Colorado 3-1 at the King Center.
The Hardrockers dominated the first set, winning 25-9 to take a 1-0 set lead. After going out to a 6-1 advantage, South Dakota Mines went on another run to go up 16-5. They ended the set with a 9-4 run to win 25-9.
In the second, the Rockers won 25-22 to go up 2-0 in the match. With an 11-11 tie midway through the set, the Hardrockers went out to a 17-12 lead. The Mountaineers answered to make it a one-point set, but the Rockers picked up the 25-22 victory.
Western Colorado rebounded with a 25-23 third set victory. The Rockers closed out the match with a 25-20 win in the fourth set. They were down 6-5 until four kills and a bad set gave the Rockers a 10-6 lead. The Mountaineers answered and made the score 18-21 until the Rockers closed out the match with a 25-20 win.
Cate Warren recorded 14 kills on a .444 hitting percentage. She also added four blocks and two digs.
Maria Bouman totaled seven kills, seven blocks and five digs.
Lexi Glendenning,
Brylin Gomer and
Ivy Vindivich all had six kills. Both Gomer and
Grace Mak picked up four blocks. Emily Henderon put up a double-double with 20 assists and 10 digs.
The Rockers collected 63 digs, 40 assists, 45 kills, 12 blocks and six aces against the Mountaineers. They held Western Colorado to a .123 hitting percentage.
Match 2: Hardrockers 3, Skyhawks 0
South Dakota Mines swept Fort Lewis 3-0 on Saturday night.
To start the match, the Rockers won 25-16 in the first set. After going back-and-forth, the Hardrockers went on an 11-3 run to take a 17-9 lead. That lead carried them to a 25-16 victory.
In a tight second set, the Hardrockers held on and won 30-28 to take a 2-0 match lead. Fort Lewis went out to a 13-12 lead until the Rockers rallied with a four-point run to take a 16-13 lead. The Skyhawks would answer back and go out to a 22-20 advantage. After the Hardrockers took a 24-22 lead, both teams would go back-and-forth. Both teams had chances to win the set until Glendenning and Bouman put up a block to win the set 30-28.
The Hardrockers closed out the match with a 25-14 set three win. They went out to a 12-7 lead to start the set. With their 16-11 advantage, a 9-3 run would end the match with a 25-14 win.
Warren led the match with 19 kills. She also put up a .400 hitting percentage with three digs and two blocks. Glendenning hit for .400 with 10 kills, three blocks and three digs. Vindivich put up eight kills with 13 digs, while Mak collected seven kills and four blocks. Henderson chipped in 25 assists and nine digs.
The Rockers hit for .301 with 56 kills. They also put up 52 digs, 52 assists, eight blocks and four aces.
With the wins, the Hardrockers improved to 8-2 overall and 2-0 in the RMAC.
What's Next
The Hardrockers start a three-game road trip for the next two weeks at CSU Pueblo, Colorado Christian and Chadron State. They come back home to face Black Hills State on Sept. 25 at 7 p.m.
