PUEBLO, Colo. - The Colorado State University Pueblo Volleyball is back in action this weekend with two home games at Massari Arena, hosting Black Hills State University, and South Dakota Mines on Friday and Saturday.

Coming into this weekend, the ThunderWolves have had an impressive start to the season, starting 7-3 through the first 10 games. One season ago though 10 games, the Pack started 3-7. 

CSU Pueblo is also having a strong start to Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play, as the Pack are 2-0 after defeating New Mexico Highlands in the conference opener 3-0, and Adams State on the road in the second game, defeating the Grizzlies 3-1.

ABOUT THE PACK:
The ThunderWolves are led by their 2023 All-American Sadie Scoville (Pleasant Grove, Utah/Pleasant Grove). Scoville ranks third in the RMAC in kills with 133, averaging 3.91 kills per set. Scoville has also been a defensive menace for opposing teams, as she leads the team in digs with Maddox Richtmyre (Surprise, Ariz./Willow Canyon) at 94. Scoville has 15 blocks on the season, and is also second on the squad in service aces with 14. In addition to her early season wonders, Scoville won the Steel City Showcase Most Valuable Player to start the season. So it is safe to say, she likes playing home matches. 

Freshman Hallie Hewlett (Bountiful, Utah/Bountiful) has been an early season surprise for Head Coach Austin Albers, as first-year ThunderWolf leads the team in assists with 176. Hewlett has been an early season threat serving the ball, as she leads the Pack with 15 service aces.

Braelyn Woodworth (Gilbert, Ariz./Perry) is coming off her best performance of the season, as the defensive specialist/libero led the team in their last outing against Adams State, leading the team on the defensive end with 16 digs.

Rayliene Joens (Elkhorn, Neb./Winona State) has just been waiting to break out for the ThunderWolves to complement Scoville, but injuries have hindered the teams' vocal leader. Joens has been limited in action due to load management, but has been effective when on the court. Joens has 64 kills on the season, hitting .210. Joens is also a defensive threat and is third on the squad with 19 blocks.

Macy Wood (Sandy, Utah/Alta) anchors the defense, as the sophomore middle blocker leads the team with 25 blocks in her first season seeing meaningful playing time. 

ABOUT BLACK HILLS STATE:
The Yellow Jackets come into this matchup with a 4-6 overall record, and have dropped their first two RMAC games, falling to UCCS 3-1, and Regis 3-1, both at home.

Black Hills State is led on the offensive side by Brooke Miller. Miller has 130 kills on the season, and also lets her defensive presence be know, as the senior also has 129 digs, and six blocks.

Abigail Renner is also a threat on both side of the ball, as the graduate student has 109 kills, and 107 digs. Renner is very active for the Yellow Jackets as she also has 12 aces, five assists, and eight blocks.

The Yellow Jackets are led by Head Coach Bree Davis, who is in her second full season leading Black Hills State. Davis took over head coaching duties in the middle of the season in 2022, after being promoted from assistant coach to interim head coach.

ABOUT SOUTH DAKOTA MINES:
CSU Pueblo definitely has some scores to settle against the Hardrockers, as South Dakota Mines sent the ThunderWolves home last season in the first round of the RMAC Tournament. The Hardrockers are 6-4 on the young season, and have a 2-0 record in RMAC play.

South Dakota Mines has knocked off Regis and UCCS in their first two conference matchups, sweeping both opponents.

The Hardrockers are led by  Allesandra Meoni on the offensive end, leading the squad with 143 kills, averaging 3.98 kills per set. 

Kiley Metzger leads the way is assists with an outstanding mark of 335 on the season. No other player has reach more than 50 assists on the season.

Anchoring the defense for South Dakota Mines is Kiera Walsh, as she has 26 blocks on the year, while Hannah Benes is an important defesive specialist with 173 digs. 

The Hardrockers are led by Head Coach Lauren Prochazka, who is in her seventh season. In six seasons, Prochazka has successfully rebuilt the program, taking over a team that had won 1 match the season prior to her arrival to a team that has qualified for the RMAC playoffs three times and is coming off its best Division II season in school history. Over the past three years, she has guided the program to 46-49, including the best season in program history in 2023.