BOX SCORE

LA GRANDE, Ore. – The Eastern Oregon University volleyball team fell at home to Concordia University Friday night in five games.

The thrilling match went to a fifth set for the third time in the last four meetings between these two programs, as well as six of the last ten matchups. The victory was a first for the Cavaliers in La Grande since Sept. 2, 2006, when they won in five sets.

A 7-2 lead for Concordia (6-5) (3-1) spread to 14-7, and the Cavaliers took the opening set, 25-17. The game was tied twice in the first set, but the lead never changed. CU had 11 kills, while Eastern had nine in Game 1.

The second game featured five ties and three lead changes. EOU had 12 kills, compared to the Cavs' 11. Eastern Oregon jumped out to a 7-3 lead and made the margin 14-7 after a kill from Lisa Steinbach. The Mountaineers led 18-12, but Concordia went on a 9-2 run to take lead. CU went on to win, 25-22.

The third set was classic and had 11 ties and two lead changes. EOU took a 1-0 lead, and was never tied or trailed after taking an 18-17 lead. Eastern had 16 kills in the game, and the Cavaliers had nine. The Mountaineers won the set, 25-21, after a Jessica Lea kill.

Eastern got out to a 6-1 lead in the fourth set and spread the lead to seven points three times in the game, and had its largest lead at 21-13. Concordia went on a 5-0 run to close the lead to three points, but would manage only one more point before falling, 25-19.

The Cavaliers got out to a 5-2 lead forcing EOU to call a timeout in the final set. The Mountaineers were forced to call another timeout when CU took an 8-3 lead. Concordia continued its momentum to a 15-6 win, and Eastern only had three kills in Game 5 to the Cavs nine.

Raluca Dinca led Concordia with 15 kills. Aubrie Concannon had a team-high 17 digs. Lindsay Mangan finished with a match-high 38 assists, and added 11 digs. Clair Thiel and Erika Doremus had 12 and 10 kills. Jenna Huie and Skyler Kamaka finished with 13 and 10 digs respectively.

After being named the Libero of the Week in the Cascade Collegiate Conference and breaking the school record for digs in a match, Eastern's Kaitlyn Duncan finished with 16 digs Friday. Lea had a match-high 16 kills, and added 19 assists and 10 digs. Taylor Stewart had 10 kills, Leigh Anne MacCarthy and Emily Sampson finished with 13 and 11 digs.

The Mountaineers host Warner Pacific College Saturday night at 7 in Quinn Coliseum. The Knights were swept by The College of Idaho Friday in Caldwell, Idaho. There will be a live video stream on EOUSports.com of the EOU and Warner Pacific match, along with live stats.