Walla Walla University Loses to College of Idaho in Home Opener
Malcolm Shaw, Sports Writer
COLLEGE PLACE, Wash. -- Despite losing in 3 sets to Eastern Oregon at home (25-11, 25-16, 25-17), Walla Walla University played unafraid and showed that they will not back down against higher ranked opponents.
Eastern Oregon University is ranked 6
th in the NAIA and 1
st in the CCC and for the last two sets of the game WWU never gave up and stuck with the visiting Mountaineers.
The first set was another story however, as Eastern Oregon stormed back after trailing 6-5 to the Wolves to go up 16-6 and eventually close the game out in control 25-11.
The second set was a close one as both teams went on small runs and traded points with one another, until the score was 17-15. But Eastern Oregon would take command and close the set out in strong fashion to win 25-16.
In the third set it was close again until the Mountaineers created some breathing room with a 20-14 lead late in the set. Walla Walla’s Emily Allen tried to carry her team back with three straight aces to bring the Wolves within three, but Eastern Oregon shut down any ideas for a comeback with five quick points for the win.
Eastern Oregon’s Rachelle Chamberlain led the game with an impressive 34 assists out of her team’s 37. She also had 3 of her team’s 4 aces, and tied with Holli Mullins for the game high in digs with 9, and Kasaundra Tuma for the game high in blocks with 3.
Walla Walla’s Emily Allen had a game high 4 aces and Nilah Mataafa added 6 assists to go along with 6 digs. Carly Ursino, Ashlyn Ghazal, and Maria Darling each had 8 digs to help the Wolves and Melissa Barton and Morgan Doyle each added 2 blocks.
Walla Walla’s next volleyball game will be Thursday, Sep. 9 at 4:30pm against New Hope Christian College in Eugene, Oregon.