Strong front row play vaulted the Chadron State College volleyball team to its first win of the season Saturday at the Angelo State Tournament in Texas. The Eagles swept the University of Texas-Permian Basin convincingly. The scores were 25-15, 25-14, 25-14.
 
The Eagles had 39 kills and just 13 hitting errors in 86 attempts for a lofty .302 hitting percentage.  Permian Basin had 90 hits, but only 18 kills and had 24 hitting miscues, leaving the Falcons with a negative .067 figure.
 
One of the reasons the Texas team hit so poorly was because the Eagles managed 21 blocks. Both Lela Nomura and Gabby Varela had six stops, Alia Brennan five and Kenzie Chrisman the other four.
 
Permian Basin totaled just eight blocks.
 
Chadron State's leading hitter was Rudy Leasau with 10 kills. Following the evening's matches, she was placed on the all-tournament team. Both Varela and Chrisman had seven, Nomura six and Brennan five. Freshman setter Madison Webb handed out 28 assists.
 
Earlier in the day, Kansas Newman bested the Eagles 25-24, 20-25, 25-17, 25-13.  Leasau paced CSC at the net with 13 kills. Chrisman, Varela and Nomura each had seven.  Webb had 37 set assists and senior Jamie McLain paced CSC in digs with 18. 
 
Three Newman players finished in double figures in kills, led by senior Ashley Gonzalez with 17.
 
The Eagles, now 1-3, will enter the Nebraska-Kearney Fall Classic this coming weekend.