Griffins Travel to South Dakota
The Westminster women's volleyball team heads to the road this weekend to play conference games in South Dakota. The Griffins will play at Black Hills State on Friday at 7 p.m. before facing South Dakota Mines on Saturday at 3 p.m.
 
Both of the matches this week will be broadcast live on the RMAC Network with the home school producing the content. Live stats will also be available during the action both nights. Links for all live features are available at WestminsterGriffins.com/live.
 
About the Griffins
The Griffins will head to South Dakota at 2-15 overall this season and they are 0-8 in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference action. They are currently 14th in the RMAC standings and one of two winless teams in the league. They have gone 0-5 in road matches to date.
 
Westminster is hitting .125 as a team while averaging 10.55 kills per set. They average 1.07 service aces and get 15.52 digs per set. Opponents are hitting .254 against the team while the Griffins get 1.60 blocks per set.
 
Amara Spere leads the Griffins with 182 kills – 3.25 kills per set – and she is second on the team with 11 service aces. Savannah Ipsen has recorded 103 kills and 139 digs. Desiree Wickwar has 88 kills and is hitting .156.
 
Taylor Gustafson has a team-best 368 assists and Emilie Austin has 144. Amber Lamborn has a team-best 13 aces and ranks fifth in the RMAC at 0.33 per set. Megan Gallegos leads all Griffins with 149 digs and Katie Allen has a team-high 39 blocks.
 
Point of Attack
• Amara Spere leads the team in kills and is second in blocks and aces entering play this week. The junior has been in double figures in kills during 10 matches and has led the team in kills 13 times. Spere has been in double figures in five straight matches and has averaged 4.69 kills per set while hitting .253 during the span.
 
Up the Charts
• Spere continues to make her way up the career leaderboards at Westminster and starts the week sixth in team history with 706 kills. She is fifth all-time by hitting .201 for her career and ranks seventh with 178 total blocks. Spere can also be found in the Westminster top-10 in attack attempts, solo blocks, and block assists.
 
Dual Threat
• Savannah Ipsen has become the team's second option at outside hitter and has totaled 103 kills for an average of 1.98 per set. Ipsen is hitting .150 while placing third on the team with 139 digs. Ipsen has recorded at least 10 digs in three straight matches and five times this season.
 
Last Line of Defense
• Megan Gallegos continue to provide the team with excellence at the libero position as the junior is averaging 3.82 digs per set this season. Gallegos has been in double figures in digs eight times and she had a season-high 21 against Fort Hays State. She begins the week with 914 career digs to rank fifth in team history.
 
Set the Offense
• Taylor Gustafson has been the Griffins primary setter this season and she currently leads the team with 368 assists. Gustafson averages 6.69 assists per set and she has led the team in assists during 15 matches. She also averages 1.89 digs per set and has three double-doubles.
 
Match Facts: Black Hills State
• Westminster leads the all-time series 1-0.
• The Griffins swept last season's match in Spearfish.
• BHSU enters the week at 4-13 overall and 2-7 in the conference.
• Danielle Torpey leads the team at 2.36 kills per set.
 
Match Facts: South Dakota Mines
• Westminster is 1-0 all-time in the series.
• The Griffins picked up a 3-1 win last season on the road.
• South Dakota Mines is 1-19 overall and 0-9 in the RMAC.
• Emily Newton leads the Hardrockers at 2.08 kills per set.
 
Looking Ahead
• The Griffins return home next weekend to open a four-match homestand. They host Adams State on October 21 and then welcome Fort Lewis on October 22. Tickets for both matches are available at WestminsterGriffins.com/tickets.