CSC volleyball team shuffles its players
Chadron State’s volleyball team has continued to shift players into different positions on the court. With the changes, the Eagles were unable to win any sets, losing both Friday to University of Colorado-Colorado Springs, 25-15, 25-23, and 25-15; and Saturday to Colorado State University-Pueblo, 25-13, 25-15, 25-18.
Jennifer Stadler, head volleyball coach said that it has been difficult for a portion of the team to be out for the games and it’s unfortunate because it’s something the team doesn’t have control over.
“I thought the girls did a good job of just staying positive through that adversity and trying to come together and make the best out of the situation,” she said. “It’s a difficult thing to have to constantly adjust to things especially in the last minute.”
Shifting to the backrow over the weekend was Skylar Sullivan, sophomore of Rapid City, South Dakota, who wore the libero jersey over the weekend and led the Eagles Friday with her season high of 15 digs. Saturday, Sullivan tied with Rylee Greiman, junior of Windsor, Colorado, with 12 digs.
“Skylar Sullivan was one of those players that I thought really stepped up,” Allie Ferguson, sophomore of Chadron, said. “Playing libero is a huge role and I thought she handled it very well. She stayed composed and really showed her hustle and heart.”
CSC’s backrow defense totaled nearly 50 digs each night, with 46 digs Friday and 45 digs Saturday.
Greiman was a leader Friday with nine kills, an ace and six digs. She also had five kills Saturday.
Ferguson was able to reach five season highs over the weekend with one assist and 13 digs on Friday along with 11.5 points, three aces and a block on Saturday.
“It was such a great feeling reaching so many career highs this weekend,” Ferguson said. “At the beginning of the year, coach (Stadler) told me my main role was to always be ready to come off the bench at any moment, so having the opportunity this weekend to consistently play in the rotations and step up and show what I could do was such a great experience.”
Amelia Berg, senior of Fort Collins, Colorado, missed Friday’s game but returned Saturday with nine kills and six digs, while Audrey Bennett, freshman of Lenexa, Kansas, led the Eagles with 24 assists Friday and 20 assists Saturday.
Stadler said that it’s hard to ask players to do something they weren’t expecting to do but she’s glad for the depth of their roster to feel slightly comfortable when players have needed to be shifted to a different position on the court.
“I thought that was just really good to see their heart, a little bit of their passion, a little bit of that competitive grit,” Stadler said. “I really appreciate that although our season isn’t going exactly the way that we had hoped it would go, they’re still coming out every game and giving their all.”
The Eagles play their final home games at 6 p.m., Friday against Colorado Mesa and 4 p.m., Saturday against Westminster. Saturday’s game, Senior Night, will recognize the seniors for their final home game in Chicoine Center.