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The CSC Eagle Newspaper – Chadron, NE
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The CSC Eagle Newspaper – Chadron, NE
SportsVolleyball

Eagles soar over Griffins

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Last weekend the Eagles’ volleyball team traveled to Grand Junction, Colorado, and Salt Lake City, to take on the Colorado Mesa University Mavericks and the Westminster College Griffins, respectively.

Against the Mavericks, the Eagles were led offensively by Rudy Leasau, junior of LaMesa, California, who had a total of 14 kills in the three set match-up. Alexis Farris, sophomore of Blair, also came through with a big play when she served up an ace to keep the Eagles alive offensively. Madison Webb, a true freshman of Loveland, Colorado, was also a key contributor on offensive chipping in for a team high 27 assists that night.

On the defensive side, the Eagles saw Chloe Guillen, sophomore of San Antonio, give her all by tallying up 13 digs in an effort to keep the Eagles sound on defense. The Eagles saw another freshman make a statement that night, Kenzie Chrisman, true freshman of Sterling, Colorado, who gave the Eagles a much needed lift on defense with a total of three blocks. In the end, the Mavericks were just too much for the Eagles who ended up losing in three straight sets, all by less than three points.

Justine Ackie, (9), senior of Phoenix, Arizona, keeps her eyes on the ball while she's serving at the game Friday night.—Photo by Sara Tweet
Justine Ackie, (9), senior of Phoenix, Arizona, keeps her eyes on the ball while she’s serving at the game Friday night.—Photo by Sara Tweet

On Saturday, trying to rebound from a loss, the Eagles traveled to Salt Lake City, to face off against the Westminster Griffins. The Eagles came out in full attack against the Griffins and never looked back, winning almost every offensive column. The Eagles once again saw good play out of Chrisman, this time collecting a total of 10 kills, and she tied with Gabby Varela, sophomore of Dorado, Puerto Rico, for the most kills this game. Sierra Winkle, freshman of Tucson, Arizona, collected an impressive two aces during the three-set match.

Defensively, Varela played a key role collecting a total of 16 digs, Chrisman again played above the net by collecting a team-high six blocks. Both Chrisman and Varela played major parts in the effort to make sure the Eagles pulled out a victory and salvage the weekend. The Eagles were more efficient than the Griffins on both sides of the ball and this showed when they pulled off an impressive weekend winning the match, 3-0.

“It felt good to get the win on Saturday,” Farris said. “We aren’t content with being 2-2 in conference, but it does keep us in the top eight of the RMAC, which was team goal going into the season.

“We wanted to make sure we came out of the first conference showdown against them (Westminster) with a win,” Farris said.

The Eagles are set to face the Colorado State University-Pueblo ThunderWolves, Friday, and the Western State Colorado University Mountaineers, Saturday, at home in the Chioine Center at 7 p.m. both days.