BOX SCORE

CALDWELL, Idaho – The Eastern Oregon University volleyball team had a 2-1 lead slip away at No. 6 College of Idaho, falling in five sets Friday.

In one of the most thrilling and important matches in their 84-meeting history, the two rivals traded punches all night in a Cascade Collegiate Conference blockbuster bout. With the win, The College of Idaho (19-1, 14-0 CCC) retains sole possession of the top spot in the conference standings with four matches remaining in the regular season.

The 'Yotes extend their conference home win streak to 60 and their overall win streak in J.A. Albertson Center to 39 matches, three victories shy of the school record. C of I also owns a 35-match win streak over its rivals, Eastern Oregon. College of Idaho has now won 16 consecutive matches overall.

The College of Idaho was led by Kylee Nawahine's 21 kills. The sophomore added 18 digs. Kelsey Soos has been named the conference setter of the week the last eight straight weeks. Friday she finished with 63 assists and 10 digs. Whitney Brigham equaled he school record with a match-high 41 digs. Torrey Hulsey added 17 kills. Ciciley Fox and Danielle Montalbo chipped in 13 and 10 kills respectively.

The first set featured seven ties and a trio of lead changes. Eastern opened the game with an 8-2 lead and held the lead for much of the set. However, C of I turned a 16-13 deficit into a 20-17 advantage after a Fox kill completed the run. The set would then be tied at 20, 22, 24, 25 and 26. An Eastern attack error gave the 'Yotes a 24-22 lead and set point. EOU called a timeout, regrouped and eventually won the opening game thanks to back-to-back kills from Rebecca Haight and Taylor Stewart.

Game 2 began with College of Idaho jumping out to a large lead at 9-3 after three consecutive EOU attack errors. After trailing 12-5, the Mountaineers closed the gap to 12-8 after a kill by Stewart. Eastern would come within two points three times before the eventual 25-20 decision in favor of C of I.

The third set had four lead changes and eight ties. A ballhandling error by Eastern Oregon gave College of Idaho a 7-3 lead to open the game. The Mountaineers responded with a 7-1 run capped by a Lilia Najera kill to take a 10-8 lead. EOU never led by more than three points in the set. A Stewart kill gave Eastern a 16-13 advantage, but the 'Yotes answered with a 7-1 run to take a 20-17 lead. EOU responded with another 7-1 run to take a decisive 24-21 lead, followed by a Stewart kill to cap the 25-22 victory for Eastern.

The College of Idaho opened the fourth set with a 5-1 lead, before Eastern Oregon made a 6-1 run to take the lead. Game 4 featured a match-high 10 ties and six lead changes. EOU would continue its run to take a 10-7 lead, its largest advantage of the set. The 'Yotes then made a 5-1 run to regain the lead at 12-11. The set would be tied at 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18 and 19.

With College of Idaho leading 20-19, the 'Yotes Madison Curtis fell to the floor with an apparent lower leg injury. The junior collapsed to court where she would stay during an 18-minute delay during match. With the assistance of paramedics, Curtis was helped off of the court and driven to the Emergency Room.

College of Idaho regrouped and finished the set by scoring five of the final six points for the 25-20 win.

The final set featured no ties and no lead changes. The 'Yotes carried over their strong fourth game finish, beginning the fifth set with a 4-0 lead. The Mountaineers came as close as two points, 6-4, after a C of I attack error. The College of Idaho would eventually take the set, 15-11, and the match 3-2.

Haight finished with a career-high 21 kills, while adding a team-high 25 digs. Jessica Lea had 28 assists and 17 digs. Kaitlyn Duncan chipped in 20 digs. Stewart ended with 12 kills and 11 digs. Emily Sampson added 19 assists. Eastern Oregon's hitting percentage was .133, compared to the 'Yotes' .205.

The Mountaineers (14-9, 12-2) fall to 0-7 this season when trailing in attack percentage, and 13-3 when winning the first set. EOU is now 0-3 in five-set matches this year. Lea is six sets away from setting the school's all-time mark for sets played in a career.

Eastern Oregon now sits a half-match ahead of Southern Oregon, winners of eight straight, for second place in the conference. The No. 16 Raiders (14-4, 11-2) swept Corban Friday in Ashland, and host Northwest Christian Saturday. SOU then must close the season with the current top three teams in the CCC, concluding with Eastern on Nov. 5 in Ashland.

The Mountaineers are one win from clinching a third postseason berth in the last four seasons. Eastern Oregon welcomes Warner Pacific and Concordia next Friday and Saturday for its upcoming matches. Both matches begin at 7 p.m. and will be the final volleyball contests in Quinn Coliseum this season.