Mounties Take Down Crusaders in Five-Set Thriller
Isaac Williams
LA GRANDE, Ore. - Tuesday night on campus is usually reserved for study sessions or quiet time with friends checking out the newest DVD releases. However, on this Tuesday night in La Grande a raucous crowd of students hit Quinn Coliseum to see their Mountaineers serve notice to NCAA Division II Northwest Nazarene. The Mountaineer faithful would not be disappointed. Eastern knocked off NNU in a thrilling five-set affair (25-22, 25-20, 18-25, 23-25, 15-10).
Game one saw the Crusaders jump out to a 4-1 lead behind terrific defense from Libero Jackie Bourdon and company. However, the Mountaineers (13-5, 8-2 CCC) charged back with a 9-1 run to take a 9-5 lead. Both teams traded blows during the middle portion of the set before Eastern shot out to a 22-16 lead and coasted to a 25-22 win in the first.
In the second set NNU and EOU went back and forth and found themselves knotted in a 17-17 tie. Then, Mountaineer freshman Jessica Lea connected with former Crusader, Ashleigh Dailey for two thunderous kills that seemed to ignite the Eastern offense as they cruised to a 25-20 win.
Northwest Nazarene battled back in the third to make it a match. With the score tied at 10 a piece NNU scored 6 unanswered and while EOU did make a couple of runs, the Crusaders finished the third set up 25-18.
Unfazed by NNU's play during that third set the Mounties jumped out to a 17-8 lead in the fourth but the 8-7 Crudaders charged back to take the lead 23-22 and the win 25-23.
The fifth and deciding game was all EOU. The Mountaineers took an early lead and never looked back winning the set and the match 15-10, 3-2.
Freshman standout Jessica Lea finished with 13 Kills, 9 Digs and 22 Assists, while All-American Grace Deboodt racked up a game high 15 Kills and 7 Digs.
Sareena Simpson and Melanie Ceciliani each totaled 17 digs while junior setter Chelsea Herron wound up with 13 Digs and 20 Assists.
Eastern returns to Cascade Conference action this weekend when they hit the road for games against Warner Pacific and Cascade College.
The Mounties return home October 17th and 18th for homecoming. EOU will be hosting CCC leaders Southern Oregon and Oregon Tech. Friday night against SOU the first 75 EOU students though the doors will get a free Wear Blue Get Loud T-Shirt.