Eagles lose 2 RMAC games at home, 1 on road

With the RMAC schedule in full swing, the Eagles dropped to a 1-4 conference record, losing to Western State Colorado University, Gunnison, and Colorado Mesa University, Grand Junction. CSC showed improvement, but lost both games in five sets. The Eagles were swept by Regis University, Denver on Tuesday.
Against Western, the Eagles struggled to finish down the stretch. In set No. 2, CSC led 24-22, but allowed the Mountaineers to score four straight. The fourth set was a similar situation, leading 19-14 at one point, CSC committed error after error, allowing Western to win the set 25-23, forcing a fifth set.

Setter Madison Webb, sophomore of Loveland, Colorado, shared the ball well, allowing three hitters to record double-digit kills. Outside hitters Gaby Varela, junior of Dorado, Puerto Rico, and Rudy Leasau, senior of LaMesa, California, earned 15 and 14 kills, respectively. Kenzie Chrisman, sophomore of Sterling, Colorado, added 11. Webb finished the game with 49 assists, tying her season high.
Against Mesa, the Eagles were facing another loss after the first two sets, with the Mavericks dominating the second, 25-13. The Eagles rallied in the third and fourth, and forced a fifth set.
The Eagles owned a three-point advantage early in the set, but a strong Mesa rally shifted the momentum just enough to finish with an eight-point run.
Leasau was the only Eagle to record double-digit kills.
The defense for CSC played well, recording 14 blocks as a team. Chrisman and Alia Brennan, senior of Chadron, played a part in seven blocks each. Varela added five.
Mesa received 16 points in this week’s American Volleyball Coaches Association Top 25 Poll, but not enough to land inside the list of elite teams.
“I think we are playing more as a team rather than six individuals,” Chrisman said. “We really focused on communication and when we communicate on the court, we play better than if we weren’t.”
In Denver, against Regis University, the Rangers’ defense kept the Eagles in check the whole game, only allowing Leasau to reach 10 kills. Regis only recorded four team blocks but were solid from the backrow, earning 42 digs.
Webb managed to average 11 assists per set in the short match.
The Rangers were fueled by team kills and only 10 errors on the attack. As a team, Regis averaged a .444 hitting percentage.
The Eagles fell to an overall record of 2-11.
“Several of us are frustrated, but we use it as motivation,” Chrisman said. “Losing two games in five sets is hard because we were so close. We just need to focus on the errors that we make and turn those into points. If we fix a few things and keep improving we will end up where we want to be.”
CSC will be back home on Friday with a match against Westminster College, Salt Lake City. The Griffins are 0-4 in the RMAC, 2-10 overall and are led by junior Amara Spere, of Midvale, Utah. Spere, who stands 6 feet, averages over three kills per set.
First serve is scheduled for 6 p.m. at the Chicoine Center.