BOX SCORE
PORTLAND, Ore. – The Eastern Oregon University volleyball team built on its best start in Cascade Collegiate Conference play in program history with a sweep at Concordia University Friday.
The Mountaineers (8-6, 7-0 CCC) remain unbeaten in Cascade Conference play with the win. Both teams entered the match receiving votes in the NAIA national poll. It was only the second win for Eastern at Concordia out of the last 11 tries.
Rebecca Haight finished with a season-high 18 kills to lead Eastern. The junior ended the night with a hitting percentage of .457 and added 12 digs.
Katie Showers had 11 kills.
Emily Sampson and
Jessica Lea recorded 21 and 19 assists.
Kaitlyn Duncan also had 12 digs.
Game 1 featured an incredible rally from the Mountaineers. The first set featured nine ties as it was close early but the Cavaliers began to pull away as an 11-9 CU lead turned to 18-11. Concordia had a 22-18 advantage, but Eastern Oregon then tied the set at 22. Six of the nine ties in the game came in the final points as EOU completed the comeback with a 30-28 win.
The Cavaliers (9-4, 4-2) again gained a lead in the second set, 14-10. The Mountaineers tied the set at 16, then took a 19-16 lead. Concordia evened the score three times before the game would end, but Eastern took the set, 25-21.
The Mountaineers controlled the third game jumping out to a 10-1 advantage. EOU would stretch its lead to 16-3. The Cavaliers would come as close as seven three times, but Eastern Oregon won the game, 25-16.
Clair Thiel led CU with 10 kills. Lindsay Mangan had a match-high 30 assists and Aubrie Concannon recorded 15 digs. The Cavaliers finished with a .148 hitting percentage, while Eastern had a .277 hitting percentage.
Eastern has won 24 of the last 26 sets it has played in. Kaki Morehead is one win away from her 70th win as a collegiate head coach.
The Mountaineers stay in Portland to face Warner Pacific College (1-6, 0-6) Saturday at 7 p.m. The match will feature a live video stream and stats on EOUSports.com. Eastern can match its longest winning streak in the past decade with a win at WPC. The Mountaineers have won nine straight matches over the Knights.
