Gunnison, Colo.   The Western Colorado volleyball team drops home opener to South Dakota Mines.
 
JUST THE FACTS
Final Score: South Dakota Mines defeat Western Colorado 3-0 (25-14, 25-19, 26-24)
Records: Western Colorado overall 1-8 (0-2 RMAC) | S.D. Mines 1-8 overall (1-1 RMAC)
Location: Gunnison, Colorado | Paul Wright Gym
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Western Colorado started fast as junior Kaira Willits fired back-to-back service aces, then set up junior Liv Marshall for a kill to give the Mountaineers a 3–2 lead. South Dakota Mines answered with a pair of kills to swing it 4–3, sparking a 6–1 run that pushed the Hardrockers in front 8–4. Western trimmed the margin to 10–7 on a block from senior Olive Rolseth, but S.D. Mines steadily pulled away behind strong hitting and extended the lead to 18–10. Despite defensive work, the Mountaineers couldn't recover, and Mines closed on a 7–2 surge to claim the set 25–14.
• The second set began even, tied 3–3 after a Willits kill from sophomore Galatia Andrew's assist. S.D. Mines inched ahead 8–5, but Marshall and Rolseth answered with consecutive points to cut it to 9–7. The Hardrockers built a 15–10 cushion, but Western kept pace as Andrew and Willits notched kills to close the gap to 18–15. A late block by Rolseth made it 21–18, but three straight Mountaineer errors gave SDM breathing room. The set ended on another Western attack error, sealing a 25–19 loss despite a competitive mid-frame push.  
• Western jumped out to a 4–1 lead after a Mines hitting error and a Rolseth kill. The Hardrockers rallied to tie it 6–6, and the teams traded blows with Willits and Marshall keeping Western level at 11–11. Mines grabbed a 16–13 lead, but the Mountaineers responded with a 4–1 burst, capped by an Andrew kill, to knot the score at 17–17. From there, the sides traded points all the way to 22–22, with Rolseth pounding another kill to extend the rally. At 24–24, Western had staved off two set points, but SDM closed the final two rallies with Daugherty kills to take the set 26–24 and sweep the match.

NET NOTES
For Western, Marshall led the team in kills with 9, while Rolseth followed with 7, and junior Kyra Kidd added 6. On service, Kaira Willits made 2 aces (the team-high) and was joined by Rolseth and Galatia Andrew each with 1. At the net, Kidd posted a team-best 7 total blocks (a mix of block solos and assists), with freshman Emily Robins and junior Breanna Nohava each contributing 3. Willits also led in assists with 16, followed by freshman Anuhea Ka'alele with 9 and Andrew with 4. In digging, Andrew, Marshall, and Willits each tallied 7 digs to tie for team-best.

THEY SAID IT


UP NEXT
The Mountaineers volleyball team will host Black Hills State on Saturday, September 20, at 5 p.m. for Superhero Night and a toy drive.

For more information visit gomountaineers.com.