CALDWELL, Idaho – No. 14 Eastern Oregon University Mountaineers Volleyball made quick work of their opponent in their first match of the C of I/Eastern Oregon Fall Classic. EOU took down Montana Western in straight sets (25-12, 25-18, 27-25) to improve to 3-2 on the year.
How it Happened
• As a team, EOU had its best offensive performance of the season hitting .239 in the win to go along with 48 kills. Defensively, Eastern held Montana Western (0-1) to just .037 and 28 kills in the win. The Mountaineers defense also posted nine blocks in the win and allowed just four by UMW.
• In the first set, the Bulldogs looked like they had a rhythm established early scoring first two points, but it was short lived. Eastern responded, scoring nine-straight to grab a 9-2 edge and force a UMW timeout.
• Four kills by
Cambree Scott paced the offense as Eastern never looked back the rest of the set and for the night. By the midway point, the Mountaineers held an 11-point lead, 15-6, and never allowed the Bulldogs to get within single digits until late
• Late attack errors by UMW coupled with stout defense by EOU held the Bulldogs to just a negative hitting percentage of -.050 as the Mountaineers won 25-12. Offensively, Eastern was nearly unstoppable as they hit .351 to secure the 13-point win.
• The fast start in set No. 1 rang true once again in the second set as EOU quickly grabbed a 9-2 lead. The Bulldogs never found a rhythm to get back in the match and trailed 15-6 at the midway point for the second straight set.
• Despite the deficit, UMW still looked to stay in the match and was able to piece together a short 4-1 run to get within six, 16-10. EOU managed to push the lead to nine at 24-15, before a last-minute rally by UMW got the score to 24-17. Despite the surge, the Mountaineers held on to win, 25-17, and led 2-0.
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Breanna Shaffer guided the Mountaineers offense in the second set as she racked six of the team's 15 kills. Offensively, EOU hit .256 in the set, while the defense held the Bulldogs to just a .050 hitting percentage.
• The third set was a battle from the get go as the Bulldogs and Mountaineers traded the lead multiple times and needed extra points to determine the winner. UMW jumped ahead 8-5 early before a 4-1 run tied the frame at 9-all. Midway through the set, the Mountaineers held a slim lead at 15-14.
• The two squads never allowed the other to create separation at any point, ultimately leading the set to go into extra points. The Bulldogs led 18-17 to force an EOU timeout but out of the break the Mountaineers scored three straight points to go up 20-18, which led to a UMW timeout.
• The Mountaineers managed to stay in front and led 23-21 late before a 4-1 rally by the Bulldogs gave them a 25-24 lead. Staying poised yet again, EOU ripped off three straight points to win 27-25 to take the match. Helping EOU secure the win were a pair of late attack errors by the Bulldogs.
• UMW's best offensive outing came in the third but they managed to hit just .037, while EOU had its worst frame offensively hitting just .161. 18 kills by the Mountaineers to 13 by the Bulldogs was the difference to end the contest in a 3-0 sweep.
Mountaineers Stat Leaders
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Breanna Shaffer paced the offense with 12 kills and had 15 digs as well for the double-double.
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Cambree Scott tallied 10 kills on .304 hitting in the win to go along with four blocks and six digs.
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Sade Williams had a near double-double with nine kills and 12 digs. She tied for the match lead in blocks with five.
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Ashton Haughton also had nine kills in the win and hit .500 in the win.
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Jet Taylor tied the match high in blocks with Williams with five. She also chipped in four kills on offense.
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Hailey Arritola led the back-row defense yet again with a match best 16 digs.
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Alexis McMurtrey led all players with 24 assists, while
Hannah Ledgerwood added 11 in her first match of the year.
For the Bulldogs
• Cady Siemion led the UMW offense with seven kills and tallied seven digs on defense.
• Danyel Martin added six kills on .455 hitting to go along with two blocks.
• Morgan Stenger also posted six kills and tallied two blocks in the loss.
• Abbey Schwager recorded a double-double with a team best 13 digs and 12 assists.
• Kaylee Fritz almost had a double-double with 10 assists and eight digs.
By the Numbers
.100 – Eastern has now held its opponents to under a .100 hitting percentage in all three of its wins this year.
0 – The Mountaineers have not surrendered a set win to the opposition in each of its three wins.
.239 – EOU's .239 hitting percentage against UMW is a season best early on in 2021.
9 – The nine total blocks by the Mountaineers against UMW is the most in a match this season.
3 –
Cambree Scott has posted double-digit kills in each of the last three matches.
450 –
Breanna Shaffer's 12 kills has pushed her career total over 450. She stands at 455 and counting.
1 –
Alexis McMurtrey is one assist away from reaching 350 for her career.
Up Next
• Eastern has a pair of matches tomorrow in the C of I/EOU Fall Classic. The Mountaineers first match will be at 8 a.m. PT against Carroll College. EOU will then battle No. 5 Dordt at 12 p.m. PT in a top-15 showdown.
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