CHADRON, Neb. - October 15, 2015 - Chadron State volleyball returns home to Chicoine Center Friday after a tough three-game road swing. They welcome in No. 21-ranked Colorado School of Mines (13-4, 7-2 RMAC) Friday night at 7 p.m. before facing off against Colorado Christian University (9-10, 4-5 RMAC) on Saturday at 7 p.m.

Colorado Mines comes into Chadron ranked nationally but in a four-way tie for third place in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference standings. Two of their four losses are to the No. 1 ranked team in NCAA Division II, Minnesota-Duluth, and No. 6 Wheeling Jesuit. They own wins over Cal State San Bernardino (No. 23) and Ashland (receiving votes). The Orediggers lead the RMAC in hitting percentage, in large part because of setter Danielle Johnson-Hazlewood, who ranks third in the nation for assists per set.

Colorado Christian stands in a direct path between the Eagles and the RMAC Tournament. The Cougars are tied for seventh in the conference standings, with CSC on the outside looking in one match behind. A win for CSC would at worst keep them alive for a tournament berth, and at best, potentially launch them into the top eight, in place to qualify. CCU comes in as the second-leading RMAC teams in digs per set, with Joelle LeFevre anchoring the defense, ranked seventh individually in the conference. Setter Jordan Carswell leads the RMAC in service aces per set.

The Eagles (4-13, 3-6 RMAC) enter the weekend on a three-game skid, hoping to put an emphatic end to it against a ranked opponent. CSC took both matches in South Dakota last weekend to a crucial fifth set, coming up winless, before losing a 1-0 advantage at division-leading Regis University and falling 3-1 on Tuesday.

With only seven matches remaining after this weekend, urgency is a must for the Eagles. Their remaining seven opponents are a combined 38-25 in conference.