CHADRON, Neb. — For the second straight night, Chadron State volleyball fought for five sets but fell to CSU Pueblo — 22-25, 25-19, 22-25, 25-14, 15-8 — in Saturday night's match at the Chicoine Center.
After a game opening kill from Kally Kirkwood in the first set, the Thunderwolves went on a five-point run, taking the lead 5-2. CSU Pueblo held their lead until CSC took it back with a four-point run featuring two blocks from Sarah Meservey to make it 18-17, CSC. The Eagles remained in control, ending the set 25-22 with a kill from Rayssa Da Silva.
CSC continued their momentum, leading 11-9 in the second set until the Thunderwolves took back the power with a four-point streak, 13-11. CSU Pueblo kept the upper hand, winning the set 25-19.
Chadron State fought for the lead in the second half of the third set with a five-point run, featuring a kill from Kirkwood, a kill from Mataya Ward and a service ace from Jillian Donovan, to take a 19-17 lead. The Eagles took the third set 25-22 with a kill from Shelby Harding.
The Eagles struggled to keep the lead in the fourth set, with the Thunderwolves taking it 25-14. CSU Pueblo used their momentum to finish the match in the last set, 15-8.
Kirkwood (14), Ward (13) and Gibson Beckler (12) led the teams in both kills and points with Ward scoring 16 points, Kirkwood scoring 15 and Beckler scoring 13.
Defensively, Chadron State had 12 blocks as a team, its most in a single match so far this year. Sarah Meservey had seven blocks, including one solo block, while Rayssa Da Silva had five and Ward had four.
Avery Lacy led the team with 24 digs while Jillian Donovan had a team-high 28 assists.
On the Thunderwolves side, Finja Schul led her team with 16 kills. CSU Pueblo also took home seven service aces, two of them from Schul.
The Eagles will travel to Durango, Colorado next Friday, with hopes for their first RMAC win against Fort Lewis, Sept. 18 at 6 p.m.
