CHADRON, Neb. -- September 22, 2021 -- The Chadron State College volleyball team is set to host its first home matches of the season this weekend against Black Hills State (4-6, 1-1) and South Dakota Mines (6-4, 0-2).

The BHSU Yellow Jackets are coming off a 1-1 start to their conference play for the season. Last week they defeated South Dakota Mines 3-0 and lost 0-3 to CSU-Pueblo (8-2, 2-0). Against Mines, they had 41 kills and 16 errors, only one of which was committed in the third set.

The Yellow Jackets' offensive attack is led by setter Karly Marx and outside hitter Madison Hoopman. Marx has been the team's starting setter, amounting to 260 assists at 7.03 assists per set so far this season. Hoopman is the team's leader in points (116), points per set (3.05), kills (108), kills per set (2.84), and total attempts (329).

BHSU is defensively led by libero Haedyn Rhoades and middle hitter Peyton Bodemann. Rhoades has earned 194 digs on the season at a rate of 5.11 digs per set. Bodemann is the leader in solo blocks (9), assisted blocks (28), total blocks (37) and blocks per set (0.97).

Haedyn Rhoades' parents are Angela and Jay Rhoades, who are both members of the Chadron State College Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2009. Jay was a three-year starter at wide receiver for the Eagles. At graduation, he held the career records for yards and touchdowns. Angela was a setter for the CSC volleyball team, earning All-RMAC first-team honors two years in a row.

Madison Hoopman's father Justin Hoopman is also in CSC's Hall of Fame. Inducted in 2014, he closed his wrestling career with 111 wins, which is the third highest win total in the history of CSC wrestling.

Black Hills State is coached by Kristin Carmichael, who is entering her eighth season as the Yellow Jackets' head coach. She is joined by first-year assistant coach Bree Davis.

Despite finishing non-conference play at 6-2, the South Dakota Mines Hardrockers dropped their first two Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference matches last week after losing 0-3 against the Yellow Jackets and 2-3 against Western Colorado (6-4, 1-1). 

The Hardrockers have a balanced offensive attack with four players having 70 or more kills on the season. The current kill leader is middle hitter Dejah Behrend, who has 88 kills at a rate of 2.26 kills per set. 

They have two athletes splitting setting duties. They are Kiley Metzger with 193 assists and Shyann Bastian with 178.

Defensively South Dakota Mines is led by outside hitter Emma Grimm, who leads the team with 150 digs. Close behind is setter Addie Stanley, who has 147 digs. Middle hitter Jacey Koethe leads the team in solo blocks (7), assisted blocks (25), total blocks (32), and blocks per set (0.86).

South Dakota Mines is coached by Lauren Torvi Prochazka. Joining her are assistant coaches Tony Sunga, McKenzi Weber, and Annika Stephens.