Box Score PHOTO GALLERY
LA GRANDE, Ore. – The Northwest Christian University volleyball team upset No. 19 Eastern Oregon University in five sets Saturday.
The Beacons (6-6, 1-2 Cascade Collegiate Conference) beat EOU for only the second time in the 12 all-time meetings. It was NCU's first ever win in La Grande, after dropping the previous five matches in Quinn Coliseum. Northwest Christian won the first meeting between the programs on Sept. 21, 2007, 3-1, in Eugene. Eastern responded by winning the next 30 sets. It was the first win ever for the Beacons over an NAIA Top-25 team.
Tami Brown led the Beacons with a match-high 18 kills. Maren Mansfield and Taylor Richardson combined for 21 additional kills. Mansfield had a team-high 15 digs, and Dana McGowan and Cori Wallace had 14 and 13 digs. Wallace led the match with 30 assists, while Alyssa Dorr had 19. Brown was in on eight blocks.
Eastern Oregon took the first set in controlling fashion. The first set featured only one tie and one lead change. EOU jumped out to a 12-2 advantage, the Beacons closed the gap to 18-15, but Eastern closed the first frame with a 25-16 win.
Set 2 was close, but the Mountaineers lost the lead only three times early in the set. Eastern's largest lead was four points, while NCU led by three in the frame. EOU led 18-17 and was able to hold off the Beacons, and win the set, 25-22.
A back-and-forth third set that had 12 ties went to Northwest Christian. The largest lead in the set was three points by both sides. The Beacons had set point at 24-22, but Eastern Oregon tied the score at 24. NCU finished the frame scoring three of the final four points.
The Beacons led the entire fourth set, including a 10-4 early advantage. EOU came as close as 16-14, but Northwest Christian took the frame, 25-20.
In the final set, NCU got to the early 5-1 lead, but Eastern Oregon made a 9-1 run taking a four point lead. EOU led 12-8, but the Beacons scored the next three points capped by a Janel Fetters' kill. Eastern had a 13-11 lead until Northwest Christian scored the match's final four points.
Casey Loper and
Rebecca Haight had 13 and 10 kills for EOU.
Jessica Perron finished with 28 assists, while
Karly Stack and
Bobbi Sumpter added 13 and 10 assists.
Kaitlyn Duncan had 22 digs, and Haight and Perron had a combined 23 digs.
The Mountaineers travel to Southern Oregon Friday for their next match scheduled for 7 p.m. Live video and stats will be on EOUSports.com.
