Eagles start conference play 1-1

A consistent offensive performance helped the Eagles split the opening weekend of RMAC play. The Eagles defeated the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs, in four sets on Friday, but couldn’t match the strong attack of Metropolitan State University-Denver, losing in four sets on Saturday.
Against the Cougars of UCCS, three Eagles finished with double-digit kills: Rudy Leasau, senior of LaMesa, California; Gaby Varela, junior of Dorado, Puerto Rico; and Stephanie Wilson, senior of Albuquerque, New Mexico. Leasau and Varela contributed 14 kills apiece, while Wilson added 13 of her own.
Defensively, Varela added 10 digs and four blocks.
Emily Bruce, junior of Centerton, Arkansas, earned 20 digs for CSC, while sophomore of Tucson, Arizona, Sierra Winkle, added 11. Alia Brennan, senior of Chadron, totaled nine blocks.
Setter Madison Webb, sophomore of Loveland, Colorado, put up 49 assists, averaging over 12 per set.
During the second game of the weekend, the Eagles couldn’t find an answer to the overpowering offense of the Roadrunners.
As a team, MSU-D hit .284, with 61 kills, and 21 errors. A large portion of their offense came from the 10 service aces.
Although the defense struggled, Leasau and Varela had standout performances again. Varela put 19 kills on the board while Leasau accounted for 17.
Webb once again contributed more than 40 sets, finishing the game with 42.
CSC hit a fair .227 but could only muster one service ace and seven blocks.
The Eagles are now 2-8 overall, 1-1 in conference play, landing them in the middle of the pack after the first weekend of conference competition.
CSC’s first home game is Friday against Western State Colorado University, Gunnison, at 6 p.m. in the Chicoine Events Center. The Eagles will also host Colorado Mesa University, Grand Junction, at 6 p.m. Saturday.