Oregon Tech's Tessa Houck finished with nine kills in a three-set win over Simpson University.
Oregon Tech Drops Simpson
KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – The Oregon Tech volleyball team ran their record to 5-1 overall after defeating Simpson University 3-0 (25-21, 25-21, 26-24) in a non-conference match to open the 2011 home schedule this afternoon at Danny Miles Court.
Tessa Houck led Tech with nine kills, while Joey Parnell tallied six in the victory. Mindy Nalder and Jennifer Saltenberger added five each. Setters Sarah Svedin and Kayleigh Whelchel combined for 40 assists, while Krystie Vea led the Owls with 14 digs. Whelchel and Marie Baumann also finished in double figures with 10 digs apiece.
Trailing 6-3 in the opener, Tech’s Joey Parnell served the Owls to eight-straight points, including three aces in the run, to give OIT a 12-6 advantage.
Simpson chipped back and eventually regained the lead, 18-17, but not before a Parnell spike and back-to-back hitting errors by the Red Hawks gave the lead back to OIT, 20-18.
SU came back to tie the set, but after four-straight points the Owls took a 24-20 lead and would move on to a 25-21 win.
In set 2 the teams stayed close, no one leading by more than two points, before the Owls moved ahead 19-16 on a Simpson ball handling error. SU closed to within a point, 20-19, but Tech once again rallied late to take the set 25-21.
After falling behind 2-0 in set 3, the Owls gained back some momentum and moved out to a 13-8 lead. Simpson closed the gap to a single point, 15-14, before OIT regained a four point lead at 20-16, and looked to win going away.
Simpson, however, crept back in and tied the set at 24-24, but back-to-back Tessa Houck kills, two of her five kills in the set, sent Oregon Tech into the win column.
Oregon Tech will begin Cascade Collegiate Conference action this Wednesday when they host arch-rival, and No. 14 ranked Southern Oregon University at Danny Miles Court beginning at 7 p.m.