MANKATO, Minn. – Chadron State got more competitive as the match went on but still came up short for the second time in as many weekends against nationally-ranked Northern State, falling 25-15, 25-20, 28-26 to conclude CSC's weekend at the Maverick Invite in Mankato. 

Mataya Ward led the Eagles with 15 kills while freshman setter Jillian Donovan had 30 assists and 12 digs to pace the Eagles in both categories. Avery Lacy recorded 11 digs to maintain her double-digit streak, while Gibson Beckler occupied the middle with six kills and four blocks. 

The Eagles made a strong push to extend the match with a well-played third set. Chadron State hammered home 17 kills with only two attack errors on 45 attempts, a .333 percentage, while limiting the Wolves to .226 on 53 attempts in the final frame. 

Northern State blitzed the Eagles in set one, hitting 17 kills on 29 attempts for a .414 percentage. Chadron State kept up early, with the teams alternating the first eight points of the game into a 4-4 tie, but Northern State used an 8-1 scoring run to take a 12-5 lead and a later 5-0 run to open up a 20-8 advantage on their way to a 25-15 set win. Chadron State saved three set points before the Wolves closed out the opening frame.

In set two, NSU opened up a 10-5 lead, but the Eagles scored the next five points to tie the score with two Ward kills, a Donovan ace and back-to-back blocks from Shelbi Hazlitt, one alongside Ward and one alongside Beckler. Northern State continued to string points together, with four separate 3-0 scoring runs in the set as the Wolves took set two 25-20. 

The third set featured an astonishing 20 ties as the two teams stayed within striking distance of one another the entire way. No team led by more than three at any point in the frame. Chadron State saved the first two match points with Ward's final two kills of the night, then took a 26-25 lead on a block by Ward and Chloe Gray. Northern State answered, however, scoring the final three points of the match on a service error and two Linnea Nesheim kills. Nesheim finished with a match-high 16. 

Chadron State, now 3-5 on the season, begins RMAC play next week on the road. The Eagles will face Colorado Christian on Friday, September 19 and CSU Pueblo the following day.