Rapid City, S.D. (Sept. 26, 2025) – In one of the most thrilling matches of the young season, the Colorado State University Pueblo volleyball team showcased its grit and determination, storming back from two sets down to earn a five-set reverse sweep victory over South Dakota Mines on Friday night at the King Center. The ThunderWolves, who trailed 0-2 after two heartbreaking opening sets, flipped the script and clawed their way to a 23-25, 23-25, 25-19, 25-21, 15-13 triumph to remain unbeaten in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play.

The opening set set the tone for a night full of drama. CSU Pueblo traded points with the Hardrockers in a back-and-forth battle that featured three ties, but South Dakota Mines capitalized on late miscues to pull away 25-23. The Pack looked ready to even the score in set two, rallying to tie it at 23-23, but once again Mines executed down the stretch. A kill and a service ace sealed another 25-23 Hardrocker win, putting CSU Pueblo in a 2-0 hole on the road.

South Dakota Mines leaned heavily on the attacking tandem of Morgan Daugherty and Lexi Glendenning, who combined for 44 kills on the night. The duo consistently found seams in the block and pressured the ThunderWolves' defense, while libero Hannah Benes kept rallies alive with 27 digs. The Hardrockers looked poised to hand the Pack their first RMAC loss of the year.

With their backs against the wall, CSU Pueblo found another gear in the third set. The ThunderWolves came out firing, hitting .342 in the frame while limiting Mines to a .205 efficiency. Caelyn Gunn, who came into the night leading the RMAC in kills per set, began to heat up on the outside. Gunn delivered clutch swings from both pins and finished with a match-high 20 kills to go along with 13 digs for a double-double.

The Pack's blocking scheme also began to click. Taylor Cary and Finja Schul combined for timely stuffs at the net, while Golden Finch added presence in the middle. The Hardrockers, who had controlled the early rallies, suddenly found themselves on their heels. CSU Pueblo took control midway through the set and never looked back, winning 25-19 and seizing momentum for the first time all night.

The fourth set was a showcase of resilience. Mines fought to regain control, but CSU Pueblo's balance proved too much. The Pack spread the offense around as setter Elena Stankovic orchestrated the attack with 40 assists. Cary, Schul, and Finch all chipped in with kills, keeping Mines' block guessing.

Defensively, libero Megan Mattingly anchored the back row with 19 digs, while Chinaru Inoue and Kacee Garcia made key plays in coverage to extend rallies. The set featured three ties and long point exchanges, but the ThunderWolves showed composure. A late surge highlighted by back-to-back kills from Gunn and Cary allowed CSU Pueblo to close out the frame 25-21, forcing a decisive fifth set.

With the crowd of 200 plus on its feet, the deciding set delivered heart-stopping drama. South Dakota Mines built an early 11-9 lead behind Daugherty's relentless attacking, but the ThunderWolves refused to fold. Schul and Cary answered with clutch swings, and Stankovic connected with Gunn on the outside for back-breaking kills.

After a 12-12 tie, Schul hammered home a kill to put the Pack in front. Cary followed with another to make it 14-12. Mines clawed back to 13-14, but CSU Pueblo closed the door as Schul sealed the victory with her 11th kill of the night. The Pack erupted in celebration after completing the 15-13 set win and the program's most dramatic comeback of the season.

By the Numbers

• Caelyn Gunn – 20 kills, 13 digs, 2 aces, team-high 23.0 points.

• Taylor Cary – 13 kills, .306 hitting, 3 blocks.

• Finja Schul – 11 kills, 5 blocks, 9 digs.

• Golden Finch – 8 kills, .389 hitting, 4 blocks.

• Elena Stankovic – 40 assists, 9 digs, 3 blocks, 1 ace.

• Megan Mattingly – 19 digs, strong serve-receive.

As a team, CSU Pueblo hit .241 on the night compared to Mines' .187. The Pack tallied 15 team blocks, with Schul, Cary, and Finch leading the way, and outscored Mines in total points 79.5 to 85, but capitalized when it mattered most.

The victory not only kept CSU Pueblo unbeaten in RMAC play (3-0) but also showed the grit and depth of Head Coach Jordan Bruere's squad. Facing a 0-2 road deficit, the ThunderWolves rallied behind balanced offense, defensive toughness, and poise in crunch time.

The Pack (7-4, 3-0 RMAC) now carry momentum into the second half of their weekend road trip. CSU Pueblo will be back in action tomorrow night, taking on Black Hills State University in Spearfish, South Dakota at 5:30 p.m. in another critical RMAC showdown.