BOX SCORE            POSTGAME QUOTES           POSTGAME NOTES           PHOTO GALLERY

LA GRANDE, Ore. – The No. 7 College of Idaho volleyball team knocked off upset-minded Eastern Oregon University, 3-1, Friday.

The Yotes (12-1, 9-0 Cascade Collegiate Conference) won their ninth straight match to stay unbeaten in conference play. The matchup featured the top two teams in the CCC, as both entered the match as the only unbeaten teams in league play. It was the final match of the first half of the conference schedule for both teams.

College of Idaho defeated Eastern Oregon for the 34th consecutive time, the longest win streak for C of I over any of its opponents all-time. EOU entered the match on its longest win streak in the last 10 years, and its best start in Cascade Conference play in school history.

Kelsey Soos had 50 of College of Idaho's 55 assists. The conference leader in assists came into the match after having a conference-high 69 assists in her last match at Concordia last Saturday. Three Yotes' finished in double figures in kills, led by Danielle Montalbo and Torrey Hulsey each had 13. Liz Myers added 11. Whitney Brigham had a match-high 16 digs.

In a battle that pitted the Interstate-84 rivals, the match featured 21 ties and nine lead changes in front of one of the largest volleyball crowds in Quinn Coliseum's history. The loud and raucous crowd was entertained by the back-and-forth match.

An Eastern attack error gave C of I an early 5-2 lead to begin Game 1. The Mountaineers rallied to even the score and take their first lead at 12-11 after a kill by Emily Sampson. Kylie Nawahine then capped off a 6-1 run for College of Idaho with an ace. The Yotes extended the margin to 20-14 after an EOU attack error. Eastern closed the gap to 20-17, but C of I went on to win the first set, 25-19.

The Mountaineers (9-7, 8-1) trailed early in the second set, but again rallied to tie the game and then take the lead. After trailing by as many as three points twice, 7-4 and 8-5, EOU took its first lead at 10-9 with a Yote service error. A Jessica Lea kill completed the run emphatically and gave Eastern a 14-10 advantage. The Mountaineers never lost the lead and led by as many as six, until winning the second set, 25-17.

The College of Idaho controlled Game 3, never trailing in the set. Game 3 was tied only once at 1-1. The Yotes' had a .275 to .184 attack percentage advantage in the set. C of I led by as many as six in the third set. College of Idaho had a 12-6 lead, before EOU closed the margin to 13-10. The Yotes took 19-13 and 23-17 leads, but both were closed to three point gaps. C of I took the third set, 25-22.

Once again, The College of Idaho jumped out to an early lead in set four. The Yotes had an 8-1 advantage after back-to-back attack errors by Eastern. The Mountaineers climbed all the way back to take a 13-12 lead. C of I responded to take back the lead at 16-13 and then 19-15. EOU came within one point three times before College of Idaho won the set, 25-21.

Stefani Sorensen led Eastern Oregon with 13 kills. Emily Sampson had 22 assists, while Jessica Lea finished with 20 assists and 13 digs. The Mountaineers fall to 0-7 when they trail in attack percentage in the match. Eastern finished with a .180 attack percentage, while College of Idaho had a .218 percentage.

Both teams host non-conference opponents Saturday. The Mountaineers welcome Walla Walla University (5-13), while C of I faces Westminster in Caldwell, Idaho.