BUTTE, Mont. – Sixth-ranked Eastern Oregon University Volleyball wrapped up its opening weekend of the 2021 season with two more contests at the Big Sky Challenge. The Mountaineers went 1-1 on the second day to close out the weekend at 2-2.
Match 1 – No. 6 Eastern Oregon 3, Rocky Mountain College 0 (25-22, 25-21, 25-13)
How it Happened
• The second win for the Mountaineers once again came in sweeping fashion against a Battlin' Bears squad (2-1) that is just outside the NAIA top-25 rankings to start the 2021 season. EOU hit .219 in the win and tallied a season best 50 kills in the win to improve to 2-1.
• Defense was key for the Mountaineers who once again are playing shorthanded. Eastern held RMC to just a .079 hitting percentage and surrendered just 30 kills for the match. The Battlin' Bears never hit over .200 in any set and went -.020 in the third set against the Mounties.
• In the opening frame, EOU battled back early on from going down 3-0 to grabbing a 6-4 lead. The Mountaineers trailed 4-2 and responded with four straight points to go up 6-4 to force an early RMC timeout.
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Sade Williams paced the EOU offense early with two kills to help the team grab its first lead of the set. Rocky kept things close and went into the midway point of the set with a 13-10 lead. Eastern held a 10-8 edge before the Battlin' Bears went on a 5-0 run to go ahead by three and force an EOU timeout.
• EOU played from behind through the middle portion of the opening set before a late surge put the Mountaineers in front for good. Trailing 18-16, Eastern then scored six unanswered to grab a 22-18 lead. A pair of kills from
Cambree Scott along with a kill and service ace from Williams were key in putting EOU ahead for good as the team took set No. 1, 25-22.
• The second set was another close battle throughout before another late surge by the Mountaineers helped them grab a 2-0 overall lead. EOU jumped ahead 4-1 right away but the lead was short lived as the Battlin' Bears got within one at 5-4.
• Three quick points from Eastern made it an 8-4 lead but RMC never allowed the Mountaineers to create separation and managed to tie the set at 9-all. As play continued to the middle part of the frame, the Mounties managed to grab a 12-10 lead after an unlikely kill from
Alexis McMurtrey.
• RMC grabbed its first lead of the set at 13-12 with the help of a kill and two EOU attack errors. Despite the mistakes, the Mountaineers managed to make adjustments and keep things close. The two squads traded points and were deadlocked at a 20-20 tie.
• EOU called a timeout at 20-all, and it proved to be helpful. Out of the short breather, the Mountaineers scored three straight to go ahead 23-20 and force an RMC timeout. The Battlin' Bears scored just one more point before kills by Scott and
Jet Taylor secured a 25-21 win for EOU and a commanding 2-0 lead.
• The third and final set was all Mountaineers as they steamrolled the Battlin' Bears by 12 to win straight sets. Eastern raced out to a 7-1 lead early on and never looked back. Looking to fight back, Rocky got within five at 10-5, but EOU responded and jumped ahead 14-6 to force an RMC timeout.
• The timeout did not make much difference as the Mountaineers' offense was in rhythm. A kill from Williams gave EOU double figure lead at 18-8 and it was part of a 4-0 surge that put the team in front 20-8.
• Rocky was never able to recover from the early run by the Mountaineers and never managed to get back within single digits after going down 18-8. Attack errors by RMC coupled with strong hitting by the Mountaineers ultimately led them to a 25-13 win and a sweep of the match.
Mountaineers Stat Leaders
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Sade Williams had a career day posting a double-double. She tallied a match best 14 kills on .195 hitting and racked up a career-high 24 digs in the win.
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Cambree Scott hit .333 in the win and totaled 12 kills. On defense, she led the Mounties with four blocks.
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Breanna Shaffer was one kill shy of a double-double with nine and had 19 digs.
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Alexis McMurtrey also had a career day with 40 assists and once again posted a double-double with 11 kills as well.
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Hailey Arritola led the defense in digs with 25 and had a pair of service aces in the win.
For the Battlin' Bears
• Makenna Bushman had nine kills in the loss and hit .158.
• Rhiannon Nez hit .238 and tallied seven kills.Blythe Sealy dished out 18 assists and racked up 12 digs for a double-double.
• Ayla Embry led the back row with 24 digs in the loss.
Match 2 – No. 14 Providence 3, No. 6 Eastern Oregon 2 (22-25, 25-23, 18-25, 25-23, 12-15)
How it Happened
• The match was the first of the season that saw the Mountaineers go to five sets and it was close from start to finish. The Argos (3-0) barely out hit the Mountaineers .170-.143 but held a 14-7 blocks edge on defense to secure the win.
• The first set saw the Mountaineers grab an early lead at 803 that forced the Argos to call a timeout. A trio of service aces by
Cambree Scott and a kill helped EOU build momentum early to go ahead by five.
• The Mountaineers early run helped them maintain a 4-5 point lead through the early going of the first set. A kill by
Madison Morgan made it a 13-8 game before the Argos got back into the set. Despite the surge by Eastern, Providence battled back and tied the set up at 1414 before going ahead 15-14.
• The two squads traded points through the later half of the set before the Argos managed to secure the win at 25-22. Providence jumped ahead 24-22 late and the Mountaineers called a timeout late to slow the momentum down. It was not enough as Providence took the first set by three to go ahead by one set.
• The second set went to the Mountaineers as they took down the Argos by two, 25-23. Like the first set, it was a battle from start to finish. Neither team managed to create separation from one another but solid decision making by EOU late helped tie the match at 1-1.
• By the midway point of the second set, EOU clung to a 15-12 lead that forced a Providence timeout. Out of the breather, the Mounties' lead grew to 16-12. The Argos tried to close the gap, but consistent work on offense by EOU made it a 20-16 lead that forced another Argos timeout.
• Out of the quick break, a kill by
Jet Taylor made it a 21-16 game. Despite the lead, Providence managed to close the gap late at 22-20 that forced an EOU timeout. The quick stop did not help as Providence tied the set at 22-all to force another EOU timeout.
• Out of the timeout, the Argos scored one more point before the Mountaineers rallied off three-straight points to take the set, 25-23.
• The third set belonged to the Argos who led wire-to-wire against the Mountaineers. EOU burned both timeouts early after going down 6-1 and 11-3, respectively. Eastern looked to battle back but was unable to build any consistency.
• The Argos lead grew to double digits when they got ahead 19-9. The Mounties made a late run to get back within single digits and cut the score to 22-15. Providence called a timeout and out of the break they held EOU to just three more points to secure the 25-18 set No. 3 win.
• Providence had the chance to close out the match in the fourth set, but the Mountaineers fought from start to finish to win by two and force a fifth and decisive set. Eastern managed to jump ahead 9-6 in the early half of the frame but a four-point surge by the Argos gave them a 10-9 lead and forced an EOU timeout.
• Out of the timeout, the two teams traded points and neither team led by more than two points. Late in the frame, a kill by EOU and a block gave the Mounties a 18-16 lead. The Argos called timeout and managed to tie the set at 18-all afterward.
• The point trade ensued and at a 21-21 tie, EOU called a timeout. The quick stop in play was key as Eastern scored a pair of points to go up 23-21. Providence called timeout but never managed to recover before falling by two, 25-23.
• The final set started in the Argos favor who jumped out to a 6-3 lead. Eastern held composure and was able to tie the set at 6-all. The rally helped the Mountaineers battle to a 11-10 lead, but the Argos responded and held them to just one more point to rally for a 15-12 win.
Mountaineers Stat Leaders
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Cambree Scott hit .222 in the loss and totaled 15 kills. She also had three service aces and seven digs.
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Breanna Shaffer also tallied 15 kills and had 11 digs for a double-double.
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Sade Williams posted a double-double with 11 kills and 15 digs.
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Madison Morgan also racked up double figure kills with 11 to go along with three blocks.
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Alexis McMurtrey handed out a career best 56 assists in the win and had 27 digs for a double-double.
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Hailey Arritola led the back row defense with 33 digs.
For the Argos
• Jenna Thorne led all players with a match high 28 kills and hit .296 in the win.
• Sadie Lott also had double-digit kills with 15 and posted a double-double with 17 digs.
• Sacha Legros led the back row with 28 digs.
• Cydney Finberg-Rober dished out a match best 58 assists in the win.
• Both Zoe Naugle and Mariah Jardine finished with seven blocks in the win.
By the Numbers
96 – The 96 assists by
Alexis McMurtrey is a new single day best and her 56 in match two is single match career high.
65 – The 65 kills by Eastern in match two is the most in a single match this season.
63 – EOU posted a season best 63 assists in the match against Providence.
1 – Early on this season, the Mountaineers have hit just over .200 in one match, which came in the win against Rocky.
Up Next
• Eastern will play again next weekend when they travel to Caldwell, Idaho for the C of I/Eastern Oregon Fall Classic, hosted by College of Idaho. The Mountaineers first opponent will be Montana Western with first serve set for Thursday, Aug. 26 at 6 p.m. PT.
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