CHADRON, Neb. – September 3, 2022 – The Chadron State College volleyball team (2-5) improved upon its score last week against Montana State University-Billings (6-1), but it lost to the visiting Yellowjackets 3-1 and dropped a three-set match to the University of Sioux Falls Cougars (3-4) in the second and final day of the CSC Volleyball Tournament.
 
"This morning we came out with a lot of fire," said CSC Head Volleyball Coach Jennifer Stadler, "and we were very aggressive throughout the first set. We began to play timid and tense throughout the rest of the match. We have to keep working on cleaning up our offense and our ability to put the ball away."
 
CSC was fairly efficient in the first set against Billings, which it won 25-18, dealing a .208 hitting percentage in its only winning game. The rest of the match was largely a function of the Eagles' decline in efficiency, rather than an improvement on the part of the opponent, which averaged .192.
 
Service aces pushed the Eagles over the top in its only game win, getting four to the Yellowjackets' none in the first frame.
 
For the rest of the match, MSUB led by 16 in kills, three in total blocks, two in service aces, and one in service errors, as the Yellowjacket offense led the way. Billings won the remaining sets 25-13, 25-23, and 25-22.
 
When the two teams faced off the week before, in Billings, the Yellowjackets won in three sets. However, each set was only decided by the minimum two points.
 
MSUB's junior outside hitter Jahsita Fa'ali'I led her team with 14 kills. Freshman outside Lily Gentz joined her in double-digit kills with 13, while junior middle Paiten Langsten added 12. Both of the latter two registered .300 or better hitting percentages.
 
Senior middle Hannah Hayden collected a game-high five total blocks for her Yellowjackets.
 
CSC's Lexi Hurtado led the way for her team with nine kills, while sophomore Aiyana Fujiyama added eight and led the team hitting .368. Sophomore Mayson Fago also had eight kills.
 
True freshman middle Bella Adams led the Eagles with four total blocks.
 
In the afternoon match, CSC fell behind 7-1 in set one before rallying to tie at 18 apiece. It led briefly until Sioux Falls moved ahead at 21-20 and scored four of the last six points.
 
CSC led the second set extensively before USF moved ahead at 12-11 and scored the last six points to make it 25-19.
 
In the third, CSC scored the first point, but gave up the next two and the Cougars never trailed again, winning 25-18.
 
Individually, USF freshman outside Sadie Voss was credited with 19 kills and only four attack errors, pushing her team across the finish line with a .500 hitting percentage. She added a service ace and nine digs.
 
Adams led CSC with seven kills in the later match. She hit .375. Sophomore Amber Harvey hit six kills and averaged .455.
 
"This afternoon we came out flat against a good Sioux Falls team," said Stadler. "We started to rally back in the first set but allowed a late push to put us back on our heels. We continue to see some really bright moments with this team and need to continue to build from those things."

In neutral-site matches at the Chicoine Saturday, both Sioux Falls and Billings won 3-0 over Minot State University, whom the Eagles beat 3-1 on Friday evening.
 
Chadron State next faces the No. 15 team in the country, which is now 7-0 and likely to climb the rankings on Monday, by the way of in-state foe Wayne State College. That match is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Labor Day, which is Monday, September 5.