Eastern's Emily Sampson sets up fo the serve against WWU.
LA GRANDE, Ore. -- The Eastern Oregon University volleyball team swept Walla Walla University Monday night in the home opener, 3-0.
The Mountaineers and WWU battled in the first game with each team exchanging the lead. Walla Walla led 18-14 after a kill by Michelle Warner. Eastern responded with a 9-0 run and ended up winning the game, 25-21.
Eastern Oregon (3-2) jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the second game and after the Wolves closed the gap to 8-6, the Mountaineers closed the game on a 17-2 run. EOU got out to another 5-0 lead in the third game, but the Wolves tied the score at seven after a run of their own. Eastern regrouped and spread the lead to 14-7, and eventually won 25-14.
“I am very happy with tonight’s outcome,” EOU head coach Hailey Pearce said. “We started out a little slow, but picked things up and finished well. Walla Walla is a good team and I’m glad we had this kind of tune-up for our first conference match Friday.”
Lisa Steinbach had 10 kills and a block for Eastern. Jessica Lea had eight kills and 11 assists. Emily Sampson led EOU with 18 assists, while Irene Walters had a team-high 13 digs. The Wolves’ Torey Haddad had a match-high 19 assists and Danielle Diaz finished with 17 digs.
The Mountaineers host Corban University Friday night at 7 in the Cascade Collegiate Conference opening game of the 2010 season. The game will be video streamed on EOUSports.com.