Chadron State Looks to Build on Most Successful Season in 10 Years

CHADRON – Talking about “the process” has become the fashionable thing for coaches to do, but when third-year Chadron State coach Riann Mullis talks about rebuilding the Eagles, it truly is a major process.

Last season Chadron State won 10 matches for the first time since 2007 and finished a very respectable 7-11 in the RMAC, which includes Division II national powers such as Nebraska-Kearney and Regis University. Chadron State was 11th in the 15-team league in 2017.

In her time at Chadron State, Mullis has revamped the roster and it is starting to pay off the Eagles on the court. She said she is hoping the upward trend continues this season.

“Chadron State Volleyball has been in the rebuilding process for the past two seasons. While we are happy with our progress we are never satisfied,” she said. “The 2017 season we fell just one set shy of making the post season playoffs. That single set is fueling our drive and intrinsic motivation for 2018. We have a core of 10 athletes returning and they all continue to work hard this preseason knowing that every touch, sprint, lift, film session, etc., are crucial in accomplishing the overall growth of the program.”

Here is a position-by-position look at Chadron State for 2018.

Setters

Madison Webb, 5’8, Sr., Loveland, Colo.

Mickey Trimble, 5’4, Sr., Platte City, Mo.

Kincaid Strain, 5’11, Fr., Elk River, Minn.

Webb has started since her freshman year for the Eagles and has 2,706 career assists. She has also been one of the team’s top dig leaders in each of her three years. Trimble appeared in 26 sets a year ago while Strain averaged 8.7 assists per set as an all-conference player in high school least year.

Pin Hitters

Shelby Schouten, 5’11, Jr., Alton, Iowa

Dominika Senkerikova, 5’9, Sr., Uhersky Brod, Czech Republic

Amelia Berg, 6’0, Fr., Fort Collins, Colo.

Kaydrin Quest, 5’’1, Fr., Raymore, Mo.

Aracely Hernandez, 5’11, Fr., Greely, Colo.

Olivia Bonestead, 5’11, Fr., Bennett, Colo.

Brooke Gardner, 5’8, Jr., Princeville, Ill.

Kelly Murphy, 5’10, Jr., Evergreen, Colo.

While Senkerikova lacks height, she is still effective on the right side for the Eagles and is the top returning kill leader with 207 a year ago. Schouten is a player to watch as the junior college transfer was a second team All-American at Des Moines Area CC. Hernandez was an all-state performer in high school in Colorado last year.

Middles

Chandler Hageman, 5’10, Soph., Chadron, Neb.

Alli Keisel, 5’11, Fr., Fleming, Colo.

Timmi Keisel, 5’11, Jr., Fleming, Colo.

Hageman, a former high school standout in Chadron, sat out last year after transferring from Black Hills State. She is joined by the Keisel sisters. Timmi played in every set last year and had 144 kills and 39 blocks while Alli was an all-state selection in Colorado last year and had more than 1,000 kills in her high school career.

Liberos/DS

Katie Thoeny, 5’7, Soph., Lakewood, Colo.

Machaela Puck, 5’8, Fr., Bennington, Neb.

Chayanne Rivas, 5’1, Jr., Greenville, Texas

Ashton Burditt, 5’6, Jr., Spearfish, S.D.

Megan Chintala, 5’3, Sr., Fleming, Colo.

Chadron State lost its libero – Emily Bruce – which handled a massive work load last year. Burditt was third on the team in digs last year with 161 and Chintala was fourth with 117.