Joey Parnell (2) and Joelle Swanson (8) record a block as Marie Baumann (19) looks on. (photo by Kelly Caleb)
Northwest Rallies to Sweep Oregon Tech in CCC Volleyball Action
KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – The Oregon Tech volleyball team held leads in every set, but Northwest University rallied late in each to sweep a Cascade Collegiate Conference volleyball match from OIT 3-0 (26-24,25-22,26-24).
Oregon Tech falls to 8-6 overall and 2-5 in CCC play, while Northwest evened their record at 6-6 on the year and 4-3 in conference action.
Oregon Tech’s Kai Evans-Bautista started set 1 off with a kill and Kristen Walters served the Owls to seven-straight points to jump on NU 8-0 to start the match. The teams traded points, as OIT still claimed a 17-10 lead midway through the set.
NU cut their deficit to four points, 24-20, as the Owls looked for someone to close it out. However, six-straight points for the visitors, including three kills from Breanna Covey would give NU a 26-24 opening set victory.
Set 2 was more of the same, as OIT moved out on the Eagles by an 11-3 score, including five Joey Parnell kills during the stretch. The Owls led 17-12, again midway through, but a 5-0 NU run tied it up and eventually took a 23-19 advantage. The Owls battled back to make it 23-22, but NU answered with the final two points to take set 2 by a 25-22 score.
Tech trailed much of set 3 before a 5-0 run gave the Owls a 21-19 lead. Kills by Sarah Svedin and Parnell helped OIT to a 23-21 lead, but the Eagles closed with a 5-1 run to steal another set, while taking the match from the Owls in the process.
Joey Parnell finished with a double-double, including a match-high 16 kills to go with 14 digs. Kai Evans-Bautista added eight kills, followed by six from Sarah Svedin. Krystie Vea recorded a match-high 23 digs, while Svedin added 21 assists.
Breanna Covey and Molly Boyle led Northwest with 11 kills each, while Heather Shulke anchored the Eagle defense with 21 digs. Lauren Ernster recorded 28 assists along with 15 digs in the win for NU.
Oregon Tech plays the next five CCC matches on the road, before returning home on Friday, October 21st versus Northwest Christian University.