CU's Skyler Kamaka led the court with 49 assists on Saturday.
Cavs Hold Off Owls in Fifth Game
PORTLAND, Ore.—After taking the first two games and nearly pulling off a sweep, Concordia needed a fifth-game rally to defeat Oregon Tech 3-2 (25-9, 25-21, 24-26, 20-25, 15-8) in Cascade Collegiate Conference volleyball action on Saturday night.
With the win, CU improved to 12-7 on the year and maintained third place in the league standings with a 9-3 record. Oregon Tech dropped to 4-17 overall and 3-10 in league action.
The Cavaliers cruised to an easy victory in the opening game by limiting the Owls to a -.037 hitting percentage while striking for a .379 rate. Raluca Dinca (Portland, Ore.) led the home squad with five of the team’s 14 kills en route to the 25-9 win.
Concordia continued its dominance by taking a 9-2 lead in the second game, but the Owls would rally with a 12-5 run powered by six kills from Megan Christensen (Klamath Falls, Ore.). After back-to-back attack errors on CU, Oregon Tech would briefly enjoy the lead with the score 19-17, but the Cavs would finish with eight of the next 10 points to force the Owls towards elimination.
The Owls took a 9-3 edge early in the third game only to see the Cavaliers clip away at the gap and eventually regain the lead with the score 19-18. After sideouts in the next three series, OIT was able to generate game-point with the game resting at 24-22. An attack error followed by a CU kill from Mariana Toscano (Portland, Ore.) nodded it at 24-24, but Oregon Tech was able to extend the match to the fourth frame with the final two points, including a clinching ace from Sarah Svedin (Palmer, Alaska).
The Owls commanded the fourth game by taking the first seven points and eventually a 17-4 lead. The Cavaliers were able to close to within four points (23-19), but with the Owls hitting .258 and CU committing eight attack errors, the match would be lengthened to a fifth and final game.
After giving away the first point, CU went on a 6-1 before finishing off the match 15-8.
“We simply need to start playing more consistent volleyball,” CU head coach Melanie Hambleton said. “I am pleased with how we stepped up in game five, but we had the opportunity to prevent a fifth game tonight so there definitely areas where we can improve.”
Led by Toscano’s 15 kills, CU had three players reach double figures in terminations with Dinca adding 14 and Erika Doremus (Port Orchard, Wash.) netting a dozen kills. Skyler Kamaka (Kaneohe, Hawaii) fell one shy of a 50-assist night and teammate Kim Lindow (Gresham, Ore.) snared 29 digs as both players totaled match highs.
Christensen led the Owls with 11 kills and was followed by seven kills by Joey Larsen (Lewiston, Idaho), who played as the team’s libero through the first two games. Larsen posted a team-high 25 digs with Christensen also reaching double figures after registering 11 digs. Svedin led OIT with 22 assists.
Concordia hit .183 for the night with a .379 attack rate in the first game and a .389 percentage in the finale. The Owls fired at a .069 clip with a match-high .258 rate in the fourth game. Led by two solo and six assisted blocks from Mirands Weitz (Pullman, Wash.) OIT outblocked the Cavs 13-to-9.
Concordia returns to action on Oct. 23 when it travels to Corban College while Oregon Tech will travel to Southern Oregon for its next road match.