#2 Ashton Arbuthnot sets for one of her match high 36 assists.
Eagles Rebound With Win Over Oregon Tech
KIRKLAND, Wash. – Northwest University bounced back from a first set loss to win three straight and defeat Oregon Tech, 3-1 (20-25, 25-19, 25-14, 25-20) in Cascade Conference play tonight. NU also rebounded from last night's four set loss to Southern Oregon.
Oregon Tech came out fast in the first set and after an 8-8 tie, reeled off five points to NU’s one to take a 13-9 lead. A Marlee Smith kill would grow the Owls’ lead to 19-12, but Northwest would close it to 4 points, 20-16, after an OIT error. Tech’s Kristen Walters would come back with a kill and NU would add on a miscue and Tech would lead 22-16. Molly Boyle’s service ace would make it 20-24, but NU would commit another error and OIT would win the set, 25-20.
The Eagles got going in the second set breaking a 4-4 tie and outscoring OIT 8-3 to take a 12-7 lead. An Olivia VanDlac service ace would make it 19-15 as the Eagles would outscore Oregon Tech 6-4 to take the set.
Set three would be close until NU’s Breanna Covey’s kill would break the tie and begin a 13-3 run capped off by a kill each by Covey and Olivia VanDlac. VanDlac would score two more kills to make it 24-13 and after a Kristen Walters kill, Tech would commit an error to end the set.
It looked as though Northwest would have an easy time of the fourth and final set taking an 18-13 lead, but not to be counted out, the Owls battled back and a kill by OIT’s Jen Saltenberger and a Krista Galloway service ace along with a NU attack error, the Techsters were right back in the set at 21-19. But, two straight Oregon Tech attack errors would increase NU’s lead to 23-19. OIT’s Kristen Walters’s kill would make it 23-20, but VanDlac would record another kill and OIT would commit a final miscue for the set and match to go to Northwest U.
Olivia VanDlac had a double-double for Northwest U. (10-6, 4-3 CCC) with 18 kills and 10 digs while teammate Breanna Covey also scored doubles with 13 kills and 13 digs. Covey also hit .300 for the night. Ashton Arbuthnot had a match high 36 assist and added 12 digs while senior Heather Shulke led the team with 17 digs.
Oregon Tech (9-11, 1-6 CCC) was led by Kristen Walters’ 11 kills. Kayleigh Whelchel had a team high 33 assists and 10 digs. Marie Baumann had a match high 30 digs for the Owls and Jen Saltenberger finished with 9 kills.
Said NU coach Steven Bain after the match, “The Southern match last night took a lot out of us emotionally and physically, so I was pleased to see the resiliency of the players and their ability to bounce back after a tough loss. It was a good win.”
Northwest U. will be in Portland, Ore. next weekend to play Concordia and Warner Pacific while Oregon Tech returns to Klamath Falls to host Corban and Northwest Christian next Friday and Saturday night.