KEARNEY, Neb. – Chadron State volleyball had a 1-1 day in the first half of the Rosella Meier Fall Classic, losing in three sets to Oklahoma Christian in the morning but earning the Eagles' first win of 2024 with a four-set triumph over Mary in the afternoon. 

Chadron lost to undefeated Oklahoma Christian in an Eagles vs. Eagles clash, coming up short by set scores of 25-16, 25-17 and 25-19. Chadron State also lost the first set to Mary, but rebounded to take the next three and got progressively more dominant as the match went on, winning 25-27, 26-24, 25-16, 25-14. 

With the win and the loss, Chadron State is now 1-5 this season. On Saturday, the Eagles will take on Missouri Southern (0-6) at 1 p.m. MT and Nebraska Kearney (6-0), the No. 6-ranked team in the nation, at 5 p.m. MT. 

Alejandra Briseno led the way with 18 kills in the win over Mary, blowing her previous CSC career high of five out of the water. Three Chadron State players hit over .300 – Aiyana Fujiyama (.381, 11 kills on 21 attempts), Briseño (.349, 18 kills on 43 attempts) and Natali Keni (.308, six kills on 13 attempts). 

Defensively, senior libero Alondra Hernandez had 32 digs in the win over Mary and kept up her streak of double-digit digs in every game this season with that performance plus 11 digs against Oklahoma Christian. The Eagles had 10 service aces, three more than any other match this season, including four from Rylee Ward and three from Avery Lacy, who also had 16 digs in the victory. 

The day started with a loss to Oklahoma Christian, who improved to 5-0 with their win over CSC. Chadron State couldn't stop Chloe Jones, the reigning Lone Star Conference Freshman of the Week, who continued her hot start to her college career with 15 kills against two errors in 30 attempts for a .433 hitting percentage. 

For Chadron State, Avery Lacy led the way with seven kills and 12 digs against Oklahome Christian. Graduate transfer Sofia Langer was CSC's primary setter throughout the Oklahoma Christian match, leading with 16 assists and 13 digs. Kally Kirkwood and Aiyana Fujiyama had five kills apiece, with Fujiyama hitting .300 based off her five kills against two errors on 10 attempts. 

Everything came together in the second match against Mary, as CSC had its best team hitting percentage of the season at .206 while holding its opponent to a season-low .145 percentage. The Eagles also set new 2024 high marks for digs (88), assists (51) and kills (53). 

Fujiyama had 11 kills against Mary with a .381 hitting percentage. Along with Briseño's 18, it marked the first time this season that CSC had two players with double-digit kills in the same match. 

After struggling a bit offensively in the first set, hitting -.019 as a team, Chadron State put together three great offensive sets against Mary, hitting .366 in the second, .278 in the third and .300 in the fourth. 

The Eagles tallied double-digit kills in every set while holding the Marauders to single digit kills in the final two sets (nine in the third and eight in the fourth). In the victory, Chadron State doubled up Mary on aces (10-5) and had more kills (53-46), assists (51-42) and digs (88-70).