CHADRON, Neb. - The University of Colorado Colorado Springs volleyball, team (7-5 / 3-1 RMAC) defeats Chadron State (3-8 / 0-4 RMAC) tonight 3-1 (25-21, 29-27, 24-26, 25-17). 

UCCS led by as many as seven points and never trailed in the first set as the Mountain Lions defeated the Eagles 25-21 to begin the match. 

Jordan Banich and Emily Whitelaw led the way in the first set with five kills each. Banich finished with a match-high and career-high 18 kills and added 12 digs. Whitelaw recorded 13 kills with a hitting percent of .455 in the match. 

UCCS picked up in the second set right where they left off in the first as they started the set on a 6-1 run, with Banich scoring three of the first five Mountain Lion points. 

The Eagles fought hard in the second set, and took a commanding 24-19 lead late. It appeared as though the match would be tied as the teams hit the intermission, but that was before the Mountain Lions surged on a 10-3 lead, again led by Banich who tacked on four more kills to aid the UCCS to its 29-27 win. 

The third set was just as closely contested as the second 10 tie scores and neither team gaining a lead greater than four points. The Eagles again found themselves with a lead late in the set, however, unlike in the second, they were able to hold on in the third to win 26-24. 

Kim Catlett and Kristen Sciacca each had a good third set with four kills apiece.  

The Mountain Lions and Eagles traded points in the early part of the fourth set with the score tied 3-3. That was the last tie of the match though, as UCCS erupted on a 15-3 run to put the set and the match out of distance for Chadron State. 

Kim Catlett had another great set as she recorded five of her 13 kills to help lead UCCS to its 25-17 win. Catlett also added 11 digs in the match. 

Kristen Sciacca finished the match with 14 kills, eight digs, a hitting percent of .480, and had a match-high five block assists.  

Setter Grace Gordon also had a great match as she recorded a career-high and match-high 58 assists. Gordon also added 10 digs and one block assist.

Up Next: UCCS will be back at home next weekend as it faces top conference opponents Metro State (7-5 / 3-1 RMAC) Friday night and No. 23 Regis (7-5 / 3-0 RMAC) on Saturday night.