CHADRON, Neb. – With the 2024 season in the rearview mirror and the 2025 schedule officially finalized, the Chadron State volleyball program utilized their spring practice season to lay the foundation for the upcoming fall, which includes a home nonconference classic and RMAC "Power Pod."

"Our main goal for spring season is to develop our athletes," head volleyball coach Jennifer Stadler said. "We take the first half of the spring to develop individually within their position groups, breaking down their skills or technique, then the latter half of the spring is to refine our team play."

The Eagles now know their schedule for the fall, which will begin with the Eagles hosting a nonconference classic for the third time in four years. The Eagle Classic will take place from Thursday, September 4 through Saturday, September 6 and will feature 12 total matches. 

Alongside CSC, Augustana (S.D.), Black Hills State, Northern State, Saint Martin's and UMary will make the trip to Chadron for the classic. The Eagles will open their 2025 season against Saint Martin's at 6 p.m. on Thursday, September 4 in the Chicoine Center, then play Augustana and Northern State on Friday and UMary on Saturday.

The following week, the Eagles will make a nonconference trip to the Maverick Invite in Mankato, Minnesota, where they are slated to play hosts Minnesota State, Upper Iowa, Minnesota Crookston and Northern State (again). 

RMAC play begins the following weekend, with CSC on the road at Colorado Christian and CSU Pueblo on September 19-20. CSC's RMAC home opener will be Friday, September 26 against Fort Lewis. The Eagles will face Western Colorado the following evening, Saturday, September 27, as part of a homecoming doubleheader with CSC football.

The Eagles will also host an RMAC "Power Pod" from Thursday, October 30 through Saturday, November 1. In nonconference matchups, CSC will face Black Hills State on Thursday, BHSU will battle New Mexico Highlands in the Chicoine Center on Friday and the Eagles will face Highlands on Saturday. The three teams are grouped together due to finishing 13th, 14th and 15th in last year's RMAC standings, with CSC earning hosting rights as the 13th place finisher.

After a breakout season in 2023 that saw the Eagles qualify for the RMAC Tournament for the first time in 20 years, CSC did not return to postseason play in 2024, which Stadler said has led to a chip on the team's shoulder and a renewed focus on the offseason plan.

"Overall, I felt like our entire team really grew this spring," Stadler said. "Everybody really came in with a hunger to get better. We felt like we took a couple steps back (from making the RMAC Tournament in 2023) so I saw them come in with drive and a sense of purpose." 

Stadler singled out rising seniors Bella Adams and Alejandra Briseno and rising sophomore Mataya Ward as players who excelled in 2024 and have showed a dedication to improve even more for 2025. 

Adams, a Second Team All-RMAC selection in 2023, "got more technically sharp this spring, but what really stood out to me the most was her leadership," Stadler said. "She's a captain on our team and her ability to hold teammates accountable and push them to be a little bit better really grew this spring." Briseno will be a captain along with Adams.

Ward, a Belle Fourche, South Dakota native, won the team-voted "Most Improved Player" award for 2024-25 after arriving on campus as an unheralded true freshman and finishing with over 150 kills. Stadler also commended Ward's work ethic to improve at volleyball while also competing as a two-sport athlete for CSC's track and field program in the spring.

While the 2025 Eagles will have the luxury of returning each of their top three kill leaders from a season ago (Kally Kirkwood, Briseno and Ward), Chadron State's 2024 dig leader (Alondra Hernandez), assist leader (Kendyl Kirkwood) and block leader (Aiyana Fujiyama) have all graduated. Hernandez and Fujiyama were the two Eagles to earn all-conference recognition last year which each garnered honorable mention during their senior seasons. 

To replace Hernandez, who led the RMAC in digs per set with 4.93 last season, Stadler said the Eagles worked 3-4 athletes at libero across the spring, including Avery Lacy, Josie Loosvelt and Kiera Alfred. That competition will continue into the fall. 
"Alo was a tremendous player, and we're really sad to see her go," Stadler said. "It will be really interesting to see what plays out and who comes in and ends up earning that position. They all have pros and cons and are a little different from each other, but they've all grown in their leadership capabilities to fill that role."

Setter will be another open competition. Rylee Ward, who finished second on the team with 205 assists behind Kendyl Kirkwood's 508, returns for her senior season, while Casper, Wyoming's Cydney Eskew is another internal option. Stadler also expects the incoming freshman class to challenge for playing time at setter this fall. 

The Eagles have one incoming transfer for 2025 at this point, with more possible. Roland, Iowa's Shelbi Hazlitt, whose mother and father are both former Chadron State athletes, joins the Eagles after a season at the University of Nebraska-Kearney and two seasons at Coe College (an NCAA Division III in Cedar Rapids, Iowa). Hazlitt, a senior middle, will add depth to the offensive unit as well as an infusion of leadership to the roster. 

With nine seniors currently on the books for this fall, Stadler knows that 2025 is a big opportunity for a group of players she's recruited, developed and coached to go out with a bang. 

"The girls have worked hard, not only on the court, but putting in hours in the classroom and in community service," Stadler said. "Their pride for Chadron State volleyball has been there but has continued to grow." 

"Having them have such a great last spring has been fun to watch," Stadler said. "With their hard work, they've set the expectations for the freshmen and everyone else coming in this fall. I'm excited to see them come back and have the same drive and passion that they had this spring to push us this next season."