No. 10 Eastern Oregon Downs Eagles in Four
KIRKLAND, Wash. - Three EOU players finished with double-doubles as No. 10 Eastern Oregon defeated Northwest University 3-1 (26-24, 25-15, 23-25, 27-25) tonight in CCC play.
The Eagles stayed close to the No. 10 ranked Mountaineers in the first set and after 32 points played, the score was tied at 16-16. The set would see 5 more ties and NU would take a 24-22 lead late in the set. But the Mounties would buckle down and finish the set with four straight kills by Kasaundra Tuma, Taylor Stewart and two by Casey Loper to pull out the set 26-24.
In set two and up 11-9, EOU would go on a 5-0 run capped off by two straight Stewart kills to increase their lead to 16-9. From that point on, Eastern Oregon would maintain command of the set as Kayla Randles would win the set with her kill.
EOU would take an early 7-3 lead, but Northwest would outscore the Mounties 7-3 to tie the score at 10-10 after Sarah Stoker’s kill. Two service aces by Rae Ann Haistings and a kill by Dakota Adams would increase the NU lead to 18-13. But, back would come EOU to outscore the Eagles 5-1 to tie the set at 19-all. Eastern Oregon would take a slim 21-20 lead, but NU would make a 5-2 run at the end to win the set. 25-23 aided by three straight EOU attack errors.
Northwest battle in the fourth set and it would remain tight the entire way. Down 21-18, the Eagles would fight their way back to tie the score 23-23 on Sarah Stoker’s kill. NU’s Rae Ann Haistings’ kill would tie the set at 25-25, but Katie Keeney’s kill and an attack error by Northwest would give EOU their 21
st victory of the season against just two losses.
Taylor Stewart had a match high 20 kills for Eastern Oregon (21-2, 11-0 CCC) while teammate Casey Loper had 16 kills and 14 digs. Stewart added 15 digs for her double-double. Stefani Sorensen also notched a double-double with 15 kills and 23 digs and Karly Stack had a match high 57 assists for the Mountaineers.
Rae Ann Haistings led Northwest (6-14, 2-8 CCC) with 15 kills and 12 digs while Sarah Stoker added 11 kills for the Eagles. Setter Christina Gleb had a team high 35 assists and Leia Roy led the team with 24 digs.