PUEBLO, Colo. (November 5, 2021) – The Colorado State University Pueblo volleyball team capped off their home portion of the 2021 season with a 25-18, 25-10, 25-16 win over Black Hills State on Saturday evening at Massari Arena.
 
The first set started out as a back-and-forth affair as neither team was able to take an edge. A serving error from Grace Hern (Jr., Omaha, Neb.) followed by three unanswered points gave the Yellow Jackets a 14-9 lead. The Pack responded with a 12-2 run of their own, highlighted by serving aces from Hannah Delor (Jr., Marysville, Mich.), Elaine Thibadeau (Jr., Monument, Colo.), and Grace Jansen (So., South Jordan, Utah) to give the team a 21-16 advantage and an eventual 25-18 win.
 
The ThunderWolves took the life from the Yellow Jackets early in the second set, posting an impressive 11-0 run. The dominating presence at the net from Payton Stack (Sr., Casper, Wyo.) and Jazzy Espinoza (Jr., Cheyenne, Wyo.) and the fierce and tenacious back row for the Pack was just too much for the Yellow Jackets as the ThunderWolves went on to win set two 25-10.
 
Again, the ThunderWolves found themselves up with an early 9-2 lead to spring off the third set. Back-to-back kills from Milica Djukic (Jr., Belgrade, Serbia) gave the Pack a 17-8 run, their biggest lead of the set, before cruising to a 25-16 win and a three-game sweep.
 
The ThunderWolves held the Yellow Jackets to a .000 and -.125 hitting percentages in the second and third sets.
 
Two ThunderWolves tallied ten kills on the match in Espinoza and Kasey Jahnke (So., Glendale, Ariz.) while Djukic and Maddy Wisniewski (Sr., Highlands Ranch, Colo.) each posted five kills. Delor, who tabbed her 1000th career dig last night against South Dakota Mines, finished the night with 3 kills, which marked her 1000th kill of her career. 
 
Thibadeau anchored the Packs' defense with 13 digs and added two assists while Hern and Jansen recorded 14 and 12 assists, respectively.
 
The Pack have a quick turnaround as the team travels to No. 1 MSU Denver on Thursday night followed by Colorado Christian on Friday evening. The two games will conclude the regular season for the ThunderWolves.