RAPID CITY - The South Dakota School of Mines women's volleyball team finished its last North Dakota road trip of the regular season this past weekend where the Lady Hardrockers picked up Dakota Athletic Conference wins against Mayville State and Valley City State.

The victories guarantee the team at least fourth place in the conference standings, and Mines will host a first-round DAC playoff game. With just four matches left on the schedule, all at home, the Hardrockers have an opportunity to move further up the rankings.

This weekend, Mines will take on Dakota State and Jamestown College. The Hardrockers are 18-4, and the Jimmies are one of the three teams to hand the 'Rockers a loss.

"The first time we played Jamestown, we lost to them in five (games). It was a hard fought battle, and they are one of our four losses," Hardrocker head coach Beth Honaker said. "This weekend is different because with a win, and if BHSU can help us out with a win their way, then we can move into third place ahead of Jamestown."

First and second place are pretty much decided, going to Dickinson State (23-3, 10-0 DAC) and Black Hills State (19-3, 8-2 DAC) respectively. Once the postseason starts in the second week of November, the top two teams get byes while the third and fourth seed host the fifth and sixth seeds. The winners advance to the DAC semifinals, where Honaker hopes to get. Third place would have the Hardrockers playing the No. 6 seed and the weaker bracket at the semifinal tournament.

Dickinson State has never lost a DAC tournament crown in the seven years of the league.

"It would be good come conference playoff time, considering if we get past the first round, we wouldn't have to face Dickinson until the finals," she said.

Jamestown won't be a pushover by any means. The Jimmies are 18-6 and 7-3 in the conference.

"They have a lot of offensive threats. They put up a big block on the outside. It is some thing that our Ashley Kauffman (outside hitter) is going to have to face. She is not use to facing a big block," Honaker said. "They run a really wicked slide off of (outside hitter) Megan Dooley. That is going to pose a threat for our right backs - Jenny Malone (middle hitter) and Tessa Howe (setter) because they will have to play a lot harder defense in order to cover it."

In the first meeting on Sept. 22, the 'Rockers were down two games and rallied back to tie the match 2-2, only to fall 15-13 in the final frame.

On Saturday, the Lady 'Rockers face Dakota State. The Lady T's are 5-21 on the season and posted a 1-5 mark in the DAC. South Dakota Mines beat them 3-1 the first time around.