CSC battle against tough competition
The Eagles try to weather the Storm.
The Eagles pushed to finish out their weekend on a higher note than it started by taking on the Storm in their final match during the Rosella Meier UNK Fall Classic in Kearney.
“I think just inconsistencies in our overall play is where we really fell short and then also just our ability to play competitively at a high level throughout the entire weekend,” Head Volleyball Coach Jennifer Stadler said.
With a second set win, CSC kept pushing against Southern Nazarene but they were unable to push the game to a fifth, losing in four sets: 21-25, 25-23, 21-25, 22-25
“Pre-season gives you an opportunity to kind of get some reps in and get to see where you are at, things that you need to work on,” Stadler said. “I think our focus just needs to be on getting our offense going and getting our offense consistent.”
Audrey Bennett, freshman of Lenexa, Kansas, made a strong mark during the match against the Storm, recording five blocks, 16 assists and eight digs. Throughout the weekend, Bennett totaled 29 assists, 22 digs and an ace serve.
For their Friday matches, the Eagles took back-to-back loses, both in three sets. Against, West Texas A&M, they lost the sets 16-25, 15-25 and 11-25. Following that evening, they faced UNK Lopers and were trampled, 9-25, 17-25 and 8-25.
“This weekend, we didn’t play very well as a team even though we did some great things,” Olivia Moten-Schell, sophomore of Billings, Montana, said. “We have all the pieces we just need to put the puzzle together.”
Moten-Schell remained persistent throughout the weekend, leading all three games in kills for the Eagles. She finished with 20 total kills through the three games, three aces and five digs.
While against UNK, Devyn Volz, junior of Parker, Colorado, was the only Eagle to serve aces with two. Throughout the weekend, Volz also totaled 15 digs and led the Eagles with 32 assists.
For CSC, Micaiah Vrbka, junior of Brainard, blocked the most attacks with 10 over the three games, five of which were against Southern Nazarene University.
“She’s (Vrbka) progressively been getting better every year that she’s been in our program,” Stadler said. “She’s come in every day since a freshman really working to get better technically. Now she’s at the point where she’s seeing all that hard work pay off and is continuing to work hard when she’s in the games.”
In the libero jersey, Rylee Greiman, junior of Windsor, Colorado, dug up more than ten attacks each game with a total of 36 digs. Greiman also assisted with two set and served three ace serves.
CSC will hit the road again to play Adams State University, 7 p.m., Friday in Alamosa, Colorado. The following game will be in Las Vegas, at 3 p.m., Saturday against New Mexico Highlands.