Lady Eagles rebound after two losses

No. 13 Camber Dodson rises up for a set during a recent match played at the BDAC

The Utah State University Eastern, despite only having three games in the past two weeks, had quite the matchups to go against. The Lady Eagles played against College of Southern Idaho, Salt Lake Community College, and Colorado Northwestern Community College, in that respective order. They played against College of Southern Idaho on Oct. 6, Salt Lake Community College on Oct. 7, and Colorado Northwestern Community College on Oct. 11. 

Their first game against CSI started off remarkably close, with both teams rallying back on forth to try and win the first set of this matchup. Despite the Lady Eagles’ efforts, CSI grazed by, finishing the set 24-26. The next set was not as close as the last, but USUE still gave it their best effort.

  The score of the second set was 15-25 in CSI’s favor. The Lady Eagles gave it their all for this last set, bringing the same effort as they did in the first set.

CSI closed out the game in the third set though, wrapping up the final set with a score of 19-25. The game leaders for USUE’s Volleyball team were Kelsy Stanger with six kills, Paige Shumway with one ace and 20 digs, Casidy Fried with six kills and three blocks, and Agata Makowska with 13 assists.

The Lady Eagles did not have time to rest though, as the very next day, USUE faced off against Salt Lake Community College. The first set was quite similar to their first set against CSI, being high energy and the score staying remarkably close. Salt Lake won the set with a final score of 25-27. The Lady Eagles did not let that set get them down though, as they rallied back to take the second set from Salt Lake Community college, where they won 25-12. With the sets tied at one win on both sides, each team brought the energy into the third set. This time, Salt Lake Community College prevailed in the set, winning this third set with a final score of 17-25. 

USUE continued to rally and fight back, wanting to extend the series to a fifth set, but Salt Lake closed out the fourth and final set with a score of 23-25. The stat leaders for the game were Lauren Hamilton with 10 kills, Paige Shumway with three aces and 14 digs, Casidy Fried with six blocks, and Agata Makowska with 22 assists. After a few days of rest and practice, USUE traveled to Hefley Gymnasium to play against Colorado Northwestern Community College. With a chip on their shoulder from their last two losses, the Lady Eagles came out firing and dominated the first set with the final score being 25-6. 

USUE did not give up any of their momentum that had built up and continued to win set after set, finishing the second set with a score of 25-13, and the third set ending in 25-12. The game leaders for USUE were Alex Trussell with seven kills, Rachel West with three aces, Kylee Atkinson with 12 assists, Oliwia Suboczewska with five digs, and Ella Bingham and Rachel West both had four blocks each. 

USU Eastern has four games over the next two weeks, with the first one being against College of Southern Nevada at the Bunnell-Dmitrich Athletic Center (BDAC) in Price at 6:00 p.m.  on Oct. 20. Their next game is against Snow College on Oct. 21 at 1:00 p.m. at the BDAC. 

Their third game is a rematch against Salt Lake Community College, but this time it will be at the Bruin Arena in Salt Lake City on Oct. 27 at 6:00 p.m. To wrap up their season before the Region 18 Tournament, the Lady Eagles will play College of Southern Idaho at the Heidi Cartisser Court in Twin Falls, Idaho on Oct. 28 at 1:00 pm.