Nearly two weeks after the Chaparrals won the Region IV title, they stepped back on to the court and the result was a bit predictable.
 
"Yeah, I think there was a little bit of rust that we contended with tonight,'' said head coach Tolis Koskinaris after the Chaps' 3-0 win over Finger Lakes Community in NJCAA D3 quarterfinal play Thursday afternoon in Rochester, Minn. "We were a little bit slow in finding our stride.''
 
Behind Chloey Myers' 17 kills along with Alyssa Fountain's 13, the Chaps earned a 25-21, 25-18, 25-22 win over the Lakers.
 
COD, now 30-3 overall, advances to the semifinals Friday night against Century Community College of White Bear Lake, Minn. with first serve at 7 p.m.
 
The Chaps hit .357 (45 kills, 10 errors, 98 attacks) in their victory, but overcame 32 ties and pulled away when they needed to in each set.
 
In the opener, a Myers kill opened a 6-2 run and broke a 19-19 for the victory. Myers had seven kills in the set and Fontaine four.
 
In the second, COD scored four straight points and ended the set on an 8-1 run after the set's final tie at 17-17. Both Myers and Fountain had five kills in the set.
 
And in the third, the Chaps hit .448 (16/3/29) for the win.
 
"Give Finger Lakes credit tonight,'' Koskinaris said. "They were much improved from our match back in August (a 3-0 COD win). They kept coming back and wouldn't go away. Our hitters got us going and that was critical.'
 
Setter Ashley Bylsma had three service aces and 33 assists.