By: John Murphy
CSC Sports Information Director
RAPID CITY, S.D. -- The Chadron State College volleyball team fell 3-1 against the Hardrockers from South Dakota Mines in Rapid City, Saturday night, 25-13, 22-25, 25-16, and 25-21, but clinched its first playoff berth since 2003 in the process.
The loss drops CSC to 14-11 overall and 7-6 in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play but they remain in sixth place.
The first RMAC playoff berth by CSC volleyball since 2003 may not look guaranteed when looking at the RMAC standings, but if CSC Sports Information office's math is correct, a playoff berth is guaranteed.
Chadron State hosts New Mexico Highlands on Friday night, who they defeated in three sets earlier this season. An in-depth breakdown of playoff seeding will be provided in the preview article for that match.
In short, due to Fort Lewis and Colorado Mines still having a match against each other remaining, no matter what the results of next weekends contests are, Chadron State will remain a top eight team in the RMAC.
Saturday, South Dakota Mines hit a season high .374 in the victory compared to CSC's .182.
Mayson Fago, a senior from Evans, Colorado led the Eagles offensively at the net with 13 kills while hitting .273. Lexi Hurtado added nine kills while Bella Adams and Aiyana Fujiyama each had seven and hit .429. The Hardrockers were led by Ivy Vindivich with 19 and Alessandra Meoni with 18 kills.
CSC's setters, Kendyl Kirkwood and Rylee Ward, had 20 and 11 assists, respectively.
Defensively, Alondra Hernandez, a junior from Provo, Utah, had a team high 16 digs while Fujiyama, a junior from Wahiawa, Hawaii had four blocks.
The matchup with New Mexico Highlands begins at 4 p.m., on Saturday. CSC Volleyball seniors will be honored at the match.