PUEBLO, Colo. (November 5, 2021) – The Colorado State University Pueblo volleyball team sent the seniors off with a bang with a dominating three-set win over South Dakota Mines on Friday night at Massari Arena for the teams Senior Night.
 
The Pack got off to a quiet start as the Hardrockers managed an early 5-3 lead, but a hard-hit ball across the South Dakota Mines defense from Hannah Delor (Jr., Marysville, Mich.) sparked a 6-0 run for the home team.
 
Later in the set, the ThunderWolves used a 3-0 run that was capped off by Jazzy Espinoza (Jr., Cheyenne, Wyo.) who blasted a beautifully timed quick hit from the middle that was too much for the Hardrockers defense to handle. The Pack saw their biggest lead at 14-8 before cruising to a 25-21 win in set one.
 
The momentum carried over into the second set for the home squad with another 6-0 run, which included two serving aces from setter Grace Hern (Jr., Omaha, Neb.), which gave the ThunderWolves a commanding 10-3 lead in the second set. The Hardrockers were held to 16 points and a hitting percentage of .105 to the Packs' .225 to give the ThunderWolves a two-set advantage.
 
Again, the ThunderWolves were able to carry the momentum over into the third set as they found themselves up 7-1 early on. The Hardrockers, however, put up a fight after knotting the game up at 11 with a 7-0 run of their own. South Dakota Mines then found themselves up three points before head coach Austin Albers was forced to call a timeout and settle his team down.
 
The timeout worked in the Packs' favor as the team posted a 12-5 run after that to walk away with 25-21 win and a three-set sweep.
 
Delor set a new milestone after she recorded her 1,000th career dig with 11 on the match and fifth double-double on the season with a game-high 11 kills.
 
Espinoza posted a .400 hitting percentage on the night and also controlled the Hardrockers at the net with five assisted blocks and a solo block on the night. The junior ended the night with six total blocks and eight kills. The middle presence was kept up by teammate Josey Nunn (Fr., Kingwood, Tex.) who tallied four kills off seven attempts and a block.
 
Setter Grace Jansen (So., South Jordan, Utah) seemed to find her rhythm tonight as the sophomore led the team with 20 assists and also recorded five digs while teammate Payton Stack (Sr., Casper, Wyo.) finished the night with 10 kills, a block and a dig.
 
The Pack will be back in action for their last time at home this season with a 7 pm matchup tomorrow night against Black Hills State.