PUEBLO, Colo. – A night after a marathon five-set match against Colorado Christian and without star sophomore Mataya Ward, the Chadron State volleyball team lost to CSU Pueblo in straight sets – 25-11, 25-12, 25-19 – on Saturday night in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference action. 

The Eagles fell victim to a potent offensive attack from the ThunderWolves, who hit .481 for the match. The Pack had eight blocks and 37 digs compared to one block and 28 digs for the Eagles.

Natali Keni and Shelby Harding had five kills apiece to lead CSC offensively. Keni put away her five kills on just seven attempts, hitting .429 for the match, while Harding hit .231 on 13 attempts. 

Gibson Beckler earned the lion's share of attempts for the CSC offense (29), finishing with four kills and six errors. Avery Lacy finished with a team-high eight digs, falling short of double digits for the first time in 2025.

Pueblo started fast in the first set, taking 11 of the first 12 points and opening up a 22-6 lead. Chadron State put together a 5-0 scoring run courtesy of all Shelby/Shelbi's – three kills from Shelby Harding, one kill from Shelbi Hazlitt and a block from Harding and Hazlitt combined – but Pueblo won the next three points to take the set, 25-11. The second set started off even, with the ThunderWolves up 10-8 early, but the ThunderWolves utilized a 6-1 run to take a 16-9 lead, then closed the set on an 8-1 run. 

The third set was CSC's best statistically, with a match-high 13 kills and match-best .219 hitting percentage in the final frame for the Eagles. But CSC didn't lead after 2-1 in the set after a Jillian Donovan kill and Brandi Helzer service ace (CSC's only one of the match), with the ThunderWolves hitting .433 in the third to seal it. 

Chadron State will have its first home RMAC matches of the season next weekend at the Chicoine Center, taking on Fort Lewis on Friday, September 26 at 6 p.m. and Western Colorado on Saturday at 7 p.m.