BUTTE, Mont. - No. 12 ranked Eastern Oregon University split its first two games of the year with NAIA powerhouses Viterbo University and Midland University on Thursday, Aug. 18. EOU dropped the first match to Viterbo in four sets, 25-22,13-25, 25-19, 25-23. The Mounties responded strongly in their second game sweeping Midland University in three, 25-23, 25-23, 25-17. Eastern Oregon will take the court next against No. 2 ranked University of Jamestown on Friday, Aug. 19 at 12:00 p.m. PT during day two of the Big Sky Challenge.
GAME 1
In the first contest of the season No. 12 Eastern Oregon University fell to No. 9 Viterbo University in the opening matchup of the Big Sky Challenge hosted by Montana Tech in Butte, Mont. on Thursday. Viterbo took the match in four sets winning 25-22, 13-25, 25-19, 25-23.
Viterbo was the aggressor on the day with 19 more attacks (134 to EOU's 115) and 12 more kills (52 to EOU's 40).
EOU's Preslee Jensen led the way in kills with 10, followed by last year's All-American, Cambree Scott, with nine, and Ashton Haughton with 7. The Mountaineers attacked at a .139 clip as a team. Hailey Arritola led the way in digs with 19.
GAME 2
The Mounties bounced back in a big way after dropping the first game of the season to No. 9 Viterbo University. EOU took on No. 5 ranked Midland University for their second bout of the day at the Big Sky Challenge. Eastern Oregon made it a clean sweep winning the match in three sets, 25-23, 25-23, 25-17.
Eastern was able to utilize a couple of big runs to keep the momentum in their favor during the match that included a six-point swing in the second set and a five-point swing near the end of the third. As a team, EOU was more efficient in their attacking opportunities finishing the match with a .222 hitting percentage compared to Midland's .083. Defensively the Mountaineers dominated at the net with 14 total blocks to Midland's three.
Preslee Jensen had another great game offensively with 15 kills and 16 points hitting at a .480 clip. Cambree Scott and Sade Williams followed suit offensively with seven and six kills respectively. Sade Williams had a standout game defensively with 11 digs, followed by Hailey Arritola with nine and Hannah ramage with 6.