SIOUX CITY, Iowa – The No. 1 ranked Mountaineers swept their second straight opponent in the quarterfinal round of the NAIA Tournament clinching their spot in the semifinals. EOU picked up right where they left off taking three straight sets against the Knights of Marian University, 25-21, 25-18, 25-18. The win advances Eastern Oregon University to their first ever NAIA Women's Volleyball Championship Semifinal appearance.
"I'm so proud of this team and their unwavering resilience," Head Coach Kaki McLean Morehead said. "It's incredibly difficult to do what they have done all season, but also incredibly difficult to come and perform on this stage as well."
The first set was a defensive battle as both teams hit under .100 in the frame. Eastern grabbed the lead from the get-go and held on to it the whole way pacing the Knights with three different 3-0 runs throughout the set. Preslee Jensen had her best set of the day racking up five of her 12 kills on EOU's way to a 25-21 set victory.
Marian responded striking first in the second set with back-to-back kills by Skyler Van Note. The Knights' lead didn't last long as Eastern retook the lead at 5-4 thanks to a Kara Clayton kill that was part of a 7-2 run for the Mounties. From there the Mounties remained in control putting together their most efficient set of the day hitting .250. A 5-1 EOU run closed it out as Preslee Jensen put the exclamation point on the second set victory with a big kill giving EOU the win 25-18.
The third set followed a similar path as Marian claimed a 2-0 lead to start again. Eastern overcame the Knights early again then went on a 7-0 run that included two Hannah Ledgerwood service aces breaking the set open and giving the Mounties an 11-6 lead. From their the Mounties worked their way to a 25-18 set victory as an Ashton Haughton kill and Knights' attack error made the sweep official.
Having clinched their first ever NAIA Tournament Semifinal appearance, the Mounties now await the result of Saturday's 2 p.m. quarterfinal matchup between No. 13 Park University and CCC rival, No. 4 Corban University. The Mounties will play the winner at 5 p.m. CST Monday evening at the Tyson Events Center.
BY THE NUMBERS
- Eastern once again reached double digits in blocks in a short three-set match finishing with 10
- The Mounties had five or more service aces for the second time in three matches at the National Tournament
- Cambree Scott's six blocks giver her 20 through three matches having put up six or more blocks in each match of the NAIA Tournament
STANDOUT PERFORMANCES
- EOU
- Preslee Jensen: 12 kills, .269 hitting percentage, 2 blocks
- Hannah Ledgerwood: 20 assists, 3 service aces, 8 digs, 1 kill
- Marian
- Skyler Van Note: 11 kills, 9 digs