LA GRANDE, Ore. – Sophomore outside hitter Amanda Miller swung in for a match-high 15 kills, and the No. 7 Eastern Oregon University volleyball team confined Northwest Christian (NCU) to a negative .020 hitting percentage to take down the Beacons in straight sets (25-22, 25-11, 25-21) on Friday night.
With the win, EOU improved to 17-1 and 12-0 in Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) play.
Key Performances
Miller attacked for five kills in each stanza to pace the Navy and Gold, while junior middle hitter Kasaundra Tuma and sophomore right side hitter Isabelle Statkus tallied five and four kills, respectively.
Junior setter Rachelle Chamberlain recorded 29 assists and four block assists, and senior libero Piper Cantrell directed the back row with a match-high 13 digs.
Meanwhile, the Beacons (10-8, 3-8 CCC) were led by six kills and four blocks (2 solo, 2 assists) by senior middle blocker Chandler Gabrio.
The Storyline
Leading by three (14-11) in set one, Miller swung in for back-to-back kills to jumpstart a 5-2 run to notch EOU’s largest lead (19-13) of the stanza. NCU crept back into the frame thanks to a trio of blocks amidst a 9-4 burst to slice EOU’s lead to one (23-22), but the Beacons committed a pair of miscues to surrender the first set.
EOU opened the second set on a 4-0 run capped by a block assist from Statkus and sophomore middle hitter Emily Nay. After NCU tied the set at six all, Chamberlain and Miller amassed two kills apiece amidst a 7-0 run to give the Navy and Gold a 13-6 advantage. The Mountaineers led by as many as 14 on a pair of occasions, and at set point (24-11), the Beacons coughed up another attack error to end the frame.
Although NCU trailed by as many as six in the third set, the Beacons hung tough and eventually tied the stanza at 19 all. But the ‘Miller Show’ wasn’t over just yet, as the Kennewick, Wash., native attacked for back-to-back kills to give EOU the lead for good. At match point (24-21), Chamberlain found Miller for one final swing, and the Navy and Gold collected its 15th triumph over NCU in the last 17 meetings between the two CCC squads.
Stats of the Match
15 – Kills by Miller, a match-high for the Mountaineers.
13 – Straight wins for EOU.
Up Next
The Navy and Gold returns to the hardwood tomorrow for its Think Pink for Breast Cancer Awareness match against Corban in La Grande at 5 p.m.