CHADRON-- The Chadron State college volleyball team started the season 2-0 Friday night, for the first time since 2008, after defeating South Dakota School of Mines and Fort Hays.  
 
The Eagles defeated the Hardrockers in a thrilling five set victory and swept the Tigers.
 
"It's great to get this first day under our belt," newly hired head coach Jennifer Stadler said after starting the season 2-0.
 
Against South Dakota Mines, CSC rallied back from a 2-1 deficit, winning 25-18, 19-25, 20-25, 25-20, 18-16.
 
Senior Shelby Schouten led the team with 16 kills and eight block assists, while hitting .395. True Freshman Rylee Greiman finished with a double-double recording 10 kills and 15 digs.
 
"Greiman is a kid we always can rely on and is super consistent all the way around," Stadler said.  
 
Senior libero Ashton Burditt had 22 digs and freshman setter Tori Strickbine recorded 35 assists and 11 digs, while sophomore Chandler Hageman led both teams with 10 total blocks.
 
As a team, the Eagles hit .193 in the match, compared to .173 for Mines.
 
The Hardrockers were led by Dana Thomson, who had a match high 20 kills. Anna Thomas finished with a match high 26 digs, while Thomson, Shyann Bastian and Caryn Hazard each recorded 13 digs. Bastian led South Dakota Mines with 23 assists, followed by Addie Stanley with 20.
 
While hitting .276 as a team, CSC had three players record double digit kills against Fort Hays. Greiman led the team with 12 kills, followed by Schouten and Strickbine each with ten. Strickbine had a hit percentage of .429 and also recorded 32 assists.
 
Liberos for both teams, Burditt and Abbie Hayes, led both teams with 13 digs.
 
CSC won the match 25-21, 25-14, 25-23.
 
"We cleaned up some of the things against Hays that we didn't do well in the first match this morning," Stadler said.
 
Junior Karli Noble led the team with eight service aces on the day.
 
"I'm super excited for tomorrow," Stadler said. "We have a lot of room for improvement and are looking forward to it."
 
The Eagles face the University of Sioux Falls tomorrow at 2 p.m., and Montana State University of Billings at 7 p.m.