Tech Volleyball Splits in Vegas
LAS VEGAS, NV — Oregon Tech’s bid to sweep its competition at the Las Vegas Blast volleyball tournament fell short Saturday afternoon when the Lady Owls had their poorest hitting performance of the season. OIT, which had blistered opponents through three victories, finished with a hitting percentage of zero as the Owls fell to Northern State of South Dakota, an NCAA Division II school in the 14-school Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference, 25-16, 26-24, 25-11.
Earlier in the day, OIT had pushed its overall winning streak to five matches with a 25-9, 23-25, 25-19, 25-20 victory over Albion College of Michigan. Against Northern State, the Wolves hit a .233 while the Hustlin’ Owls had as many attack errors as kills in the match that dropped OIT to5-2 on the season.Nicole Andrews and Mikayla Morgan both had seven OIT kills, with Krista Wooley adding six. Wooley also had a team-high nine digs and the Owls’ lone ace of the match. Aces had been a strong suit for OIT in the tournament, as the team averaged seven a match until Saturday’s finale. Morgan had her best match of the season, and former Henley High teammate Katy Nelson finished with eight digs.
In the win over NCAA Division III Albion, the Hustlin’ Owls attack effort was at .329, with Wooley picking up 22 kills, Anna Leal 10 and Megan Christensen and Andrews nine each. Christensen also had three of OIT’s six aces in the match, while Wooley added 13 digs, Lizzie Law 43 assists and 11 digs, Krystie Vea
13 digs and Morgan four blocks, one of which was a solo effort.
OIT returns home and prepares for both its first match at Danny Miles Court along with its Cascade Collegiate Conference opener when the Hustlin’ Owls host Eastern Oregon on Friday, September 5, 2008 and next Saturday, September 6, 2008 OIT will host conference preseason favorite The College of Idaho both matches are scheduled for 7pm.