SIOUX CITY, Iowa – Three matches, nine sets – that’s how the No. 6 EOU volleyball team earned its spot in the Sweet 16 of the NAIA National Championships.
Junior outside hitter Amanda Miller posted a match-high 15 kills, as the Blue and Gold took down No. 11 Georgetown, 3-0 (25-16, 25-18, 26-24), to earn its third-straight sweep and school-record 31st victory.
Notching her fourth double-double in the last five matches, senior hitter Makayla Lindburg recorded 12 kills and 10 digs, and senior setter Rachelle Chamberlain also earned the honor with 38 assists and 10 digs. Junior middle hitter Emily Nay came alive early for EOU, registering six kills and two block assists.
Sophomore libero Holli Mullins collected 23 digs and a service ace, while junior defensive specialist Malia Mills and senior outside hitter Sierra Linke added 10 digs apiece.
The opening set saw five ties before EOU (31-2) strung together a 10-1 run to pull away and reach set point. Up 17-15, the Mountaineers booked eight of the next nine to win the set, reaping five kills from Miller and three from Nay to cap the stanza.
In the second frame, Lindburg struck for three of the first seven points to give EOU an early 7-3 edge. After Georgetown (29-10) fought back to make it a one-point game (8-7), Miller attacked for four in a row, and the Mountaineers ultimately stretched their advantage to nine (22-13) after two kills and an ace by Lindburg. The Tigers made the set interesting after they compiled four straight, but Miller put one down and then Chamberlain and Nay posted a block assist to finish the stanza.
EOU valiantly fought off set point (24-23) in the third frame, booking the final three points to win the set and the match. Three-straight Georgetown errors capped a 12-7 run for EOU to open the stanza, but the Tigers responded with a 12-4 burst to go up by three (19-16). Kills by Miller and Lindburg helped tie the frame at 23 all, and Georgetown mustered set point before EOU closed the stanza with a 3-0 run to win it.
BY THE NUMBERS
31 – Wins for EOU, a school record.
27– Kills between Miller and Lindburg.
3 – Mountaineers with double-figure digs (Lindburg, Mullins, Linke, Chamberlain).
UP NEXT
EOU opens play in the championship bracket tomorrow against either No. 12 Oklahoma City or No. 5 Midland at 3:45 p.m. CT.
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