BOX SCORE          POSTGAME QUOTES         POSTGAME NOTES

LA GRANDE, Ore. – The Eastern Oregon University volleyball team won its seventh straight match in four sets over Oregon Tech Saturday.

The Mountaineers (7-6, 6-0 Cascade Collegiate Conference) stay atop the conference standings with an undefeated record in CCC play. EOU continues to build on its best start in school history in Cascade Conference play.

Eastern got a season-high 10 kills from Taylor Stewart. The sophomore finished with a .529 attack percentage. Jessica Lea posted double-digit assists for the 12th time this season. The senior had 25 assists in the match. Emily Sampson added 21 assists. Kaitlyn Duncan recorded a team-high 15 digs, while Lea and Sampson each had 13 and 12 digs.

The Owls and EOU battled throughout the match beginning with a first set that featured five ties and two lead changes. The Mountaineers led 12-10 and stretched its advantage to 20-12 capped by an Oregon Tech attack error. OIT came within five at 20-15, but Eastern Oregon responded with a 4-1 run to have its largest lead of the game. EOU went on to win Game 1, 25-18.

The Mountaineers had little trouble in the second set, taking an early lead and never surrendering it. Eastern turned a 7-5 lead into an 11-5 lead, then eventually a 20-7 advantage it's largest of the match. Eastern Oregon would win the second game, 25-15.

The third game was a back-and-forth battle featuring 12 ties and three lead changes. The lead was never larger than three points, but Tech had the momentum in the set. OIT led 17-14, but Eastern tied the game at 17, then Oregon Tech took a 24-21 lead, but EOU would tie it again at 24. Each team shared points until the Owls pulled out a 27-25 win.

Oregon Tech (6-5, 1-4) jumped out to an early lead in Game 4, but it was Eastern that would control the majority of the set. After trailing 7-4, EOU went on an 8-0 run to seize momentum in the set. The Mountaineers would take the fourth game, 25-16.

The Owls were led by Joey Parnell's 13 kills. Sarah Svedin finished with 25 assists, and Krystie Vea and Parnell each recorded 16 and 14 digs. Eastern finished with a .226 attack percentage, compared to Tech's .077.

Oregon Tech travels to Simpson University in a non-conference matchup Tuesday, while Eastern Oregon heads to Concordia University (9-3, 4-1) Friday for its next match.