EOU Drops Five-Set Match to OIT
LA GRANDE, Ore. - One night after gaining a share of the Cascade Conference lead with a win over Southern Oregon Friday night the Eastern Oregon University volleyball team took the floor looking to prove that they were there to stay.
Unfortunately, Oregon Tech stood in their way and the Owls were battling for that same number one spot after losing at The College of Idaho Friday. Eastern fell behind by dropping the first two sets but did push the match to five games before losing (25-18, 25-16, 25-21, 25-22, 15-9).
Game one saw the OIT (12-4, 11-3 CCC) jump out to a 4-0 start. The Owls extended their lead to 11-15 midway through the first set, but after a sluggish start Eastern (16-6, 11-3 CCC) rallied to climb within one at 16-15. After the Mountie run Tech went on a 9-3 run to close out game one 25-18.
A back and forth start to the second set had EOU within striking distance at 16-13 before the Klamath Falls crew reeled off six straight on their way to a 25-16 win in the second.
After the intermission the Mountaineers came out invigorated and charged out to a 17-11 lead on their way to a 25-21 win. The third was highlighted by the sky high acrobatics of Grace Deboodt and Melanie Ceciliani who's thunderous Kills helped ignite an already raucous crowd.
Game four was all EOU. The Mounties led from wire to wire to force a fifth and final set.
In the deciding game Tech charged out to an 11-5 lead and ran away with a 15-9 decision, spoiling the Mountie Homecoming. Grace Deboodt led the Mounties with 17 kills. Freshman Jessica Lea had 11 digs, 10 kills, and handed out 25 assists. Senior Sareena Simpson had a game-high 18 digs and Emily Sampson also contributed 14 assists.
Eastern will travel west to face Concordia and Corban before returning home on October 31st against Evergreen.