Homecoming sweep
The Chadron State Eagles were winners of consecutive rivalry games this homecoming weekend, defeating Black Hills State University 25-17, 25-21, 25-17, on Friday; and South Dakota Mines 25-12, 12-25, 25-23, 25-23, Saturday.
After a second set in which the Eagles surrendered their lead late, the team showed resilience, pulling out wins in the third and fourth sets.
Both were tied at 23 before CSC closed them out.
“It was fun, and the energy was great,” Eagles’ Amelia Berg, freshman of Fort Collins, Colorado, said. “Everyone played as a team like we should. We controlled the game and played our hearts out.”
Senior Madison Webb, of Loveland, Colorado, had a double-double in the match with 14 digs and 45 assists.
A total of four CSC players managed double-digit kills led by freshman Aracely Hernandez, of Greeley, Colorado, with 15. Hernandez also had 8 digs and an ace serve in the win.
“We knew when we recruited (Hernandez) that she was going to be an immediate impact kid,” Coach Riann Mullis said of her freshman player after Saturday night’s game. “She comes in and she battles, she doesn’t play like a freshman. If people didn’t know she was a freshman, they’d think she was a junior.
On Friday, during the Eagles’ win over Black Hills State, Hernandez also led the Eagles in kills with 13, but did so while hitting .257, compared to her .146 Saturday, contributing to the Eagles hitting .301 as a team against the Yellow Jackets.
The mark was the group’s highest single-game hitting percentage this season.
Sophomore Chandler Hageman, of Chadron, was just behind Hernandez with 12 kills, but converted 18 of her attacks for a .611 hitting percentage. She also had five blocks.
Teammates Shelby Schouten, junior of Alton, Iowa, and Brooke Gardner, junior of Princeville, Illinois, both had 11 kills each and hit .308 and .304, respectively.
“It’s the best we have played,” Webb said of the Eagles’ match against Black Hills State, Friday. “We worked as a team and didn’t lose focus.”
The wins move the Eagles to 5-12 overall this season and 3-5 in conference games.
“We really needed (the wins),” Mullis said Saturday evening. “The girls really love playing at
home, and these are two of our biggest rivals. We’re really happy with two wins.
“(Friday night) really set the tone for what we can do. That’s our standard. We’ve been talking
about it, but now it’s actually been implemented”
As part of Saturday’s homecoming game, Chadron area Girls Scouts were invited to attend andwere treated to an autograph session following the match.
The Eagles will look to keep their winning momentum when they travel this weekend to St.
George, Utah, to face Dixie State on Friday, and take on the Westminster Griffins on Saturday in Salt Lake City.