CHADRON, Neb. -- October 6, 2017 -- Chadron State College volleyball got dynamic play from all posts on the court, and showed command of the game for three straight sets as the Eagles overcame a slow start to rally to a 3-1 (12-25, 25-22, 25-21, 25-11) victory over rival Black Hills State University on Friday evening at the Chicoine Center.

CSC picked up steam from set one to set four, culminating in a dominating performance in the clinching final game. The team runs its record to 5-10 (2-5 RMAC), while setting the Yellow Jackets back to 6-10 (3-4 RMAC).

"They're the second blocking team in the conference right now," said CSC Head Volleyball Coach Riann Mullis," and we were able to pick the ball up off the block and keep the tempo fast, and get some kills. I think this is the best overall match we've played consistently. Being a tough conference opponent, and coming off two really hard losses, I'm proud of how they responded and how we've grown. Now we just have to keep pushing forward." 

The Eagles looked impressive on both sides of the net, against a worthy opponent in BHSU, spiking the ball hard onto the opponents' court and making several spectacular plays on the floor defensively. In particular, Coach Mullis noted Ashton Burditt, who finished with six digs, recovered several hard shots by going horizontal across Loy Young Court to make plays.

Chadron State went from a 6-2 rotation in the first set, to a 5-1 in the second, which Mullis said brought about more consistency, and they added Aijahnae Springs, who finished with 12 kills in three sets, into the rotation. Springs wowed the Chadron Night attendees, hitting for power and accuracy as she hit .450 with only three errors.

Leading the Eagles' hitters in kills was senior Gaby Varela, with 18 at the outside position. At middle, sophomore Timmi Keisel had her best match as an Eagle and her first with double-digit kills, hitting a team-high .579 with 12 kills and only one miscue on the attack.

Keisel's .579 hitting clip was the best recorded by an Eagle volleyball player in any match since 2003, and ranked among the top 20 single-game marks in school history, with a qualifying minimum of 12 kills.

The backcourt was busy too, with Emily Bruce racking up 20 digs and Varela adding five. The Eagles held their opponent to under 20 percent hitting for the fourth time this season, and the first since their win against Western State two weeks prior.

Setter Madison Webb, despite beginning the match in a two-setter rotation, was marvelous with 49 assists.

"Overall," said Mullis, "we showed the mentality after the first set, that we have to work and respond, and we have to grind. You can't be on your home court and let a team sweep you off it. We came back with a bitter taste from last Friday in our mouths, and we just responded."