CHADRON, Neb. – The Chadron State College volleyball team fell in their first game of the season Thursday night, as Saint Martin's University defeated the Eagles 25-17, 26-24, 25-14 in the Eagle Classic tournament at the Chicoine Center. 

The two battled for the lead in the first two sets, and were tied  24-24 in the second, before the Saints took the final two points and the momentum to win the third set easily. 

Kally Kirkwood led the eagles with nine kills, while Shelbi Hazlitt contributed eight. Avery Lacy led the team with 11 digs, while Jillian Donovan had 28 assists and eight digs. 

There were 10 ties and three lead changes in the first set but the Saints pulled away, scoring seven of the set's last eight points, to win 25-17. Mataya Ward had four kills in the first set for the Eagles, while Kirkwood, Hazlitt and Gibson Beckler each had three. 

In the second set, a kill from Beckler tied the score at 2-2, before the Saints scored five straight points, to take a 7-2 lead. The Eagles fought back with an eight point streak of their own, served by Josie Loosevelt, ending with a score of 12-9. The Saints rallied to tie the score at 17-17, and retook the lead at 20-19, after two attack errors by the Eagles. Chadron State was able to save two set points with a kill by Hazlitt and a block by Hazlitt and Natali Keni to tie it at 24-24, but the Saints answered with a kill and a block to take the set, 26-24. 

The Saints came out on fire for the third set, with a kill by Zoey Crimin giving SMU a 10-3 lead. From there, they slowly increased their lead, finishing the set 25-14, and winning the match in straight sets. 

For the Saints, Hanna Ligons shut down the Eagle attack with nine blocks. Emily Garten racked up 11 kills, three aces and 10 digs. 

Chadron State will take the court twice on Friday, facing Augustana at 1 p.m. and Northern State at 7 p.m. as the Eagle Classic continues in Chadron.