GUNNISON, Colo. – After two weeks on the road, the Western State Colorado University volleyball team returns to Gunnison to start a four game home stand. On Friday, Western will take on South Dakota School of Mines and Technology before pivoting to face Black Hills State University on Saturday. Both games are slated for 7 p.m.

Against the South Dakota contingent, Western (1-18, 0-10 RMAC) will be looking for its first win of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference schedule. The Mountaineers, the best serving team in the RMAC, will look for leadership at the line from defensive specialist, Logan Franek. Franek leads the RMAC with 30 service aces on the season while also joining the RMAC statistical leaders in digs.

Jordan Eatwell leads the attack for the Mountaineers as the team leader in both points (171) and total kills (154).  Fans should also pay close attention to Eatwell as she enters the weekend a mere 32 kills away from the 1,000 career kill threshold. Few Mountaineers have attained this standard and Eatwell has the opportunity to do so in the next four games in front of a home crowd.

The Hardrockers of South Dakota School of Mines (3-17, 1-10 RMAC) come to Paul Wright Gym having just gathered their first RMAC win over Westminster. Offensively, outside hitter Mikkella Reese and middle hitter Emily Newton shoulder the work load for South Dakota Mines. Libero, Alye Wagner and Reese cover the floor defensively as both average more than 3.70 digs per set.

Looking to Black Hills State University (8-11, 5-5 RMAC) Western faces an opponent coming off a two match win streak. However, the Yellow Jackets have struggled on the road in 2017. A strong blocking team, Black Hills features as the second best team in the conference averaging more than two blocks per set. Middle Cheyenne Palu has tallied 90 total blocks on the season. Defensive specialist, Sydney Ederhoff also bolsters the Black Hills defense with an average 4.39 digs per set.

The October home stand also brings the beginning of Western Volleyball's Living Journeys Fundraiser. In lieu of a cancer awareness match, Western will be soliciting donations to local non-profit Living Journeys. Living Journeys "provides financial assistance, emotional support and enrichment programs to Gunnison Valley residents affected by cancer."

If you can't catch the action in person, remember that you can always watch the match live or follow the stats at www.gomountaineers.com.