CHADRON, Neb. -- November 4, 2016 -- Chadron State College volleyball hosts South Dakota rivals South Dakota School of Mines and Technology and Black Hills State University Friday and Saturday, respectively, in a pair of critical Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference matches.
South Dakota Mines will try to avoid being swept for the fifth straight match when they come into Chadron on Friday at 6 p.m. They are also still looking for their first RMAC win. The Hardrockers allow an average of .263 hitting percentage for the season, while attacking successfully at a rate of only .129.
For students, the Friday evening match, against the university known primarily for its engineering programs, will be celebrated as "Nerd Night".
For the volleyball program, Hay Springs Night will welcome community members of Hay Springs to attend free of charge by stopping by the Double Q Country offices at 331 Main Street in Chadron by Friday afternoon.
On Saturday, CSC volleyball will host the Barefoot for Barefeet event, where they will raise awareness for underprivileged and impoverished people around the world, especially in the African continent.
Both Friday and Saturday, the team will accept fairly used or brand new athletic shoes, such as running shoes, cross trainers, or volleyball shoes. The shoes can be any size. They have set a goal to collect a minimum of 150 pairs of shoes by Saturday.
Saturday evening, the Eagles hope to avenge an earlier loss in Spearfish by toppling the BHSUÂ Yellow Jackets at home. In the previous match, Black HIlls' Cheyenne Palu recorded 10 total blocks in a 3-0 win.
The Yellow Jackets' up-and-down season took a turn for the better after defeating the Eagles, as they went on a four match winning streak ending with an upset of Colorado Mesa at home. They then fell back into a slump of three straight losses.
Nevertheless, BHSUÂ is second-best in the nation at reversing opponents' attacks, with 2.83 blocks per set. Paul is fourth nationally at 1.49 per set.
Students will also hold "Blackout Night" on Saturday wearing all-black clothing.
Both matches are scheduled for 6 p.m. in Chicoine Center.
