Warner Pacific Rolls Past OIT
PORTLAND, Ore. – Leah Gradwohl swung for 17 kills versus just 2 errors, sparking Warner Pacific to a three set sweep (25-20, 25-23, 25-13) over Oregon Tech in conference volleyball action tonight.
The visiting Owls had revenge in mind for a 5 set loss to the Knights in Klamath Falls earlier this season and jumped out to a 6-3 lead in set 1. From there the Knights took advantage of 9 hitting errors from OIT in the frame and built a lead of 17-14. A Joey Larsen ace drew the Owls within 17-16, but WP finished off the set with an 8-3 run to get the win.
Set 2 looked like it would belong to the hosts as the Knights held a sizeable lead midway at 17-10. OIT would not go away and with the set at 20-16 in favor of WPC, Sarah Svedin tallied back to back aces to give the Owls momentum. The teams battled to a 23-23 tie, then Claire Van Meer and Gradwohl put home consecutive kills to secure the set for Warner Pacific.
The Knights capped the match with a 25-13 victory in set 3 with strong play at the net as WP recorded 8 assists and 1 solo in the block category in the frame. Samantha Kolakowski served for 2 aces in the middle of a 9-1 surge to give Warner Pacific an insurmountable 18-9 lead that Oregon Tech did not threaten.
The effort from Gradwohl was a season best .469 hitting percentage. Megan Marineau and Van Meer added 6 and 5 kills respectively, and each had just 1 error as the Knights hit .179 as a team.
Megan Christensen led the Owls with 13 kills, and Mikayla Morgan added 10. Oregon Tech as a team swung for 30 kills, but also had 28 errors.
Warner Pacific will host league leading Southern Oregon tomorrow night, while OIT heads to Concordia. Both matches are at 7 pm.