Although the Chadron State College volleyball team did not win its season-opening match Friday at the Angelo State Tournament, the Eagles definitely showed signs they are improved by giving the Tarleton State Texanns all they could handle.
 
Tarleton won the first set but the score was 30-28.  The Eagles took the second set 25-23 by hitting a remarkable .500 on 17 kills and only one hitting error.  The Texanns then won the match with a pair of 25-21 decisions.
 
CSC coach Chris Wells said he was proud of the way the Eagles played. He noted Tarleton was 24-8 last season, was second in this year's Lone Star Conference preseason poll and includes both the preseason Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year in the conference.
 
"We stayed right with an outstanding team," Wells said. "It showed that we can be competitive this year."         
 
Transfer Rudy Leasau led CSC with 17 kills while both Gaby Varela and Lela Nomura had 11. Freshman setter Madison Webb had 41 set assists. Tarleton State's leading hitter was 6-foot sophomore Hailey Roberts, the Lone Star's Preseason Offensive Player of the Year with 32 kills.
 
Angelo State was CSC's second opponent and swept the Eagles 25-12, 25-18, 25-21.  The Belles, who were 21-9 last year, were third in the Lone Star's preseason poll.  Sophomore Brianna Sotello paced Angelo State with 16 kills.  Leasau again led CSC with 12.
 
The Eagles will play Kansas Newman and Texas-Permian Basin today.