Eastern Oregon defeats Westmont to open season.
The Eastern Oregon University volleyball team begins the 2009 regular season with a victory over Westmont College of California, 3-1. The Mountaineers had to hold off a rally by the Warriors in the fourth game to win 27-25.
EOU opened the match by winning the first two games, 25-18 and 25-19. But Westmont led through the entirety of the third game and won, 25-16. The Warriors jumped out to a 6-2 lead in the fourth game but Eastern went on a run that gave them the lead back. The Mountaineers had match point at 24-19 but surrendered five straight points. The teams then tied each other at 25-25 and EOU closed the game and match by scoring the final two points.
Grace Deboodt had a team high 16 kills for Eastern Oregon. Chelsea Herron had 20 assists and Jessica Lea added 18 assists. Kaitlyn Duncan made her Mountaineer debut with a game high 20 digs.
Westmont entered the game receiving nine votes in the NAIA national poll. EOU is receiving three votes in the poll. EOU faces a tougher opponent this afternoon at 1:30 p.m. when it faces Concordia University of California. The Eagles enter the game as the second ranked team in the nation. CU opened the tournament and season with a 3-0 victory over Pacific Union (Calif.).