CHADRON – Chadron State College suffered a four-set defeat to Black Hills State University Tuesday evening. The Yellow Jackets won 26-24, 25-16, 17-25 and 25-20 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference match.
 
The match was a close one, as it featured 11 ties and three lead changes. Chadron State (3-18, 2-11 RMAC) owned a 20-16 lead at one point in the first set, but could not hold off Black Hills, who ended the set with 14 kills and hit .167.
 
Black Hills limited Chadron State to only 10 kills in the second set to own the two set lead.
 
After the break, Chadron State came out with a lineup that put down 17 kills and had a hitting percentage of .245. Both teams played close in the final set until the Yellow Jackets scored eight unanswered en route to the win.
 
Black Hills State's Holly Hamlin and Meghan Sipe combined for 28 kills to put away the Eagles, led by Hamlin's 15. Hamlin, the RMAC block leader, had a match-best .375 hitting percentage.
 
BHSU's setter Brynn Eckhardt was all over the court, recording 46 assists to five different teammates while also adding 13 digs.
 
Defensively, the Yellow Jackets had nine total team blocks, led by Hamlin's six. RMAC Defensive Player of the Week Lacy Stevens, who had three service aces, paved the way with 22 digs.
 
Erika Roybal had a team-high 15 kills for the Eagles. Additionally, Lelalelei Nomura, who had four block assists, had nine kills and setter Justine Ackie, who had 38 assists, chipped in six kills.
 
Chadron State College played well on defense, holding the Yellow Jackets to a hitting percentage of .161. CSC had eight total team blocks, with Ana Kasljevic finishing the night with a match-high seven block assists. Libero Alyssa Bauer had 24 digs to lead the Eagles, while Ackie added 16 and Alexis Farris contributed 15.
 
Chadron State College goes on the road to face Colorado Christian University Saturday at 7 p.m.