ALAMOSA, Colo. - The Adams State University Volleyball picked up a hard fought win Friday night in Plachy Hall Gymnasium defeating the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology Hardrockers, 3-1. With the win, the Grizzlies improve to 7-13 overall and 4-8 in RMAC play.

The 'Rockers (4-17, 1-11 RMAC) looked to make it an interesting night as they and the Grizzlies went back-and-forth in the opening set. The set never saw either team lead by more than three points. The Grizzlies grabbed a 4-2 lead early on after a kill from Atira Jells and she kept the Grizzlies in front at 5-3 with another kill two plays later. The 'Rockers led 2-1 early, but did not retake the lead until they got up 6-5 thanks in part to a kill by Rayleigh Peterson.

It was not until late in the first set when the first timeout of the night was called. After leading 22-21, the 'Rockers gave up back-to-back kills from Jells and Grecia Diaz Martinez, respectively. Leading 23-22, the Grizzlies forced South Dakota Mines to call a timeout to kill any momentum. Out of the quick break, the 'Rockers tied the match at 23-all, but Adams State responded quickly with straight kills from Shannon Mulkey and Julianna Zamora.

With the 1-0 overall lead, Adams State looked to build its momentum to get up 2-0 before intermission. South Dakota Mines had other plans. The 'Rockers stalled any aspirations the Grizzlies had with a fast start to set No. 2. They got out to five-point lead, 8-3, early on and forced a quick Grizzlies timeout. Despite the quick stop in action, the Grizzlies struggled to find any offensive rhythm and found themselves in a 16-9 deficit at the midway point. 

Things changed after Hannah Goddard got a kill to cut Adams State deficit to 16-10 and it sparked a 5-0 run. After trailing by seven, the Grizzlies were within two, 16-14, and forced a 'Rockers timeout. The timeout benefited the 'Rockers as they put a small run of their own together, 5-2, to grab a 21-16 lead late in the second set. The Grizzlies did not recover as they scored just one more point and fell in the set, 25-17.

Coming out of the intermission, it was the Grizzlies who had a fast start this time around as they jumped out to an 8-3 advantage which forced South Dakota Mines to call timeout. The Grizzlies led from start to finish in the third set and never let the 'Rockers get closer than two points. A service ace by Marin Smith gave Adams State a commanding 15-8 lead midway though the set and forced another 'Rockers timeout. The Grizzlies allowed just four points the rest of the way to secure the 25-12 win and lead 2-1 overall.

Set No. 4 was close to start as the Grizzlies and 'Rockers were tied twice early on at 1-1 and 5-5, but a kill from Mulkey and bad set from the 'Rockers made it a 7-5 edge for the Grizzlies and they never looked back. The 'Rockers threatened a few times at the midway point of the set getting within two at 11-9 and 15-13, respectively, but the Grizzlies had an answer each time. Leading by two, 15-13, Adams State put together a small 4-0 run to get up 19-13. South Dakota Mines mustered just four more points the rest of the way as the Grizzlies took the set 25-17 and the match 3-1.

Zamora was a two-threat on the night leading the Grizzlies with a double-double. She posted 10 kills to go along with 11 digs. Offensively, Mulkey led the Grizzlies attack with 13 kills on 27 attempts. She also chipped in six digs and had four blocks. Goddard and Jells added nine and eight kills respectively, while Jells led the front line with six blocks. Mackenzie Swanson posted the most digs with 15 and added two assists. Rachael Ringler also had a double-double with a game-high 46 assists and 14 digs.

Anna Breidt and Dana Thompson led South Dakota Mines in kills with 11 apiece, while Shayann Besitin had a team-best 33 assists. Alye Wagner led the team in digs with 13, with Makinze Maiden and Tana Dahlberg each posting 12. Peterson added eight kills to help 'Rockers offense.

The Grizzlies will be back on the court tomorrow evening as they square off with Black Hills State. Opening serve against the Yellow jackets is set for 5 p.m. inside Plachy Hall Gym.