CALDWELL, Idaho - 14th-ranked Eastern Oregon University Volleyball closed out non-conference play Saturday morning with another 3-0 sweep, this time over the Master's University (25-18, 25-19, 25-22). With the win, the Mountaineers finish the C of I/Eastern Oregon Fall Classic 3-1 and improve their overall record to 5-3.
How it Happened
• Helping the Mountaineers in the win was a .269 hitting percentage and a mark of over .300 in the final two sets. The Mustangs (2-5) were held to .120 hitting percentage and were slightly edged in kills by EOU, 41-37.
• Defense was key for the Mountaineers once again as they totaled 10.5 blocks in the win. TMU won the digs battle, 51-43, but managed just three blocks in the contest.
• In the first set, EOU wasted little time seizing control of the lead as they raced out to an 8-1 lead and forced time by the Mustangs. The early start was the key as the Mountaineers never allowed the Mustangs to get any closer than five points until late in the set.
• As the set continued on, the Mountaineer continued to hold a comfortable lead over TMU. The largest lead of the opening frame came in the later half. A kill from
Cambree Scott pushed the Mountaineers lead to eight, 17-9, before the Mustangs made one final attempt at a comeback.
• Despite holding the eight-point edge, Eastern was unable to maintain it as the Mustangs pieced together a 5-0 run to cut their deficit to just three points, 17-14. Eastern burned a timeout and out of the break they ended any hopes of a comeback.
• EOU went on to outscore TMU 8-4 to take the set, 25-18. A 4-0 run out of the timeout gave EOU the 21-14 lead and forced a timeout by TMU. The Mustangs were unable to respond this time around as EOU secured the seven-point win and went up 1-0.
• The second set was more of a battle as the Mustangs found a better rhythm to keep things close from start to finish. Early on in the frame, the Mountaineers and Mustangs traded points and were locked at a tie multiple times.
• At the midway point of the set, EOU and TMU were locked at a 13-all tie before the Mountaineers went ona 4-1 run to jump ahead 18-14 and force a timeout. A pair of kills from
Sade Williams helped push the lead to four.
• The Eastern run was the difference as the Mustangs never managed to get any closer than two points the rest of the set . TMU only got within two points at 19-17 before EOU closed out the frame with a 6-2 run to secure the 25-19 win and go up 2-0.
• The third frame started out much like the second as both teams traded points back-and-forth early on. It was a 7-all tie before the Mustangs went on a quick 4-1 run to grab a 11-8 lead. Despite getting down, EOU never allowed TMU to create separation.
• Eastern managed to get within one point a handful of times but the Mustangs had an answer each time to maintain a slim two-point lead. Midway through the set, the Mustangs clung to a 17-15 lead before EOU finally managed to answer.
• EOU strung together a 5-1 run late in the frame to go ahead 20-18 and force a TMU timeout. TMU managed to cut the EOU to one, 22-21, but managed just one more point as kills by Williams,
Ashton Haughton, and
Jet Taylor ended the set at 25-22.
Mountaineers Stat Leaders
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Sade Williams once again led the offensive efforts with 12 kills and hit .276.
•
Cambree Scott led the front row on defense with seven blocks and added nine kills on a staggering .421 hitting.
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Breanna Shaffer also tallied nine kills and hit .286 in the win.
•
Jet Taylor chipped in seven kills while hitting .333. She also had three blocks on defense.
•
Alexis McMurtrey dished out 22 assists and had 10 digs for another double-double outing. She also had a match high three service aces.
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Hailey Arritola led the way on the back row with 11 digs and had once service ace to go along with two assists.
For the Mustangs
• Faith Tarver led the way on offense with 10 kills and hit .161 for the match.
• Emily Scott added seven kills on .211 hitting in the loss.
• Natalie Collins led all players with a match best 33 assists. She also had nine digs on defense.
• Karli Stults added 11 digs to lead the back row while Brooke Scott added 10.
By the Numbers
8 -
Alexis McMurtrey has posted a double-double (assists-digs) in all eight matches this season.
10.5 - The Mountaineers 10.5 blocks against TMU is the most in a match this year.
5 - In all five of EOU's wins this season, each one has come in sweeping fashion.
.269 - The Mounties' .269 hitting percentage against TMU is their highest in a match this year.
6 - EOU has tallied at least three service aces in each of its last six matches.
Up Next
The Mountaineers will begin conference play next weekend and they will get it started on their home court. EOU takes on Bushnell University Friday, Sept. 3 at 7 p.m. PT in its home opener and will follow up against Corban University on Saturday, Sept. 4 at 5 p.m. PT inside Quinn Coliseum.
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