Box Score KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – The Eastern Oregon University volleyball team struggled on Saturday evening as they were defeated by Oregon Tech, 3-1 (25-21, 23-25, 23-25, 28-30). This was Eastern Oregon's first loss to Oregon Tech since 2008.
EOU and Oregon Tech were locked in a tight first set of the game, as neither team wanted to take control of the set. Each time a team made a run the other answered right back with a run of its own. With the Eastern Oregon ahead, 12-11, the Mountaineers extended its lead to, 17-12. The Owls tried to mount a comeback but EOU was too much in set one and the Mountaineers took set 1, 25-21.
Set two looked as if it would be the Mountaineers from the get go as EOU jumped out to an, 8-2, lead over Oregon Tech. Eastern Oregon continued to hold onto its lead and grew the lead to five points, 18-13. However, the Owls started its comeback and tied the match at 18-18 after scoring the next five points. The set went back and forth until Oregon Tech took a 23-21 lead after an attack error by
Casey Loper. Once Oregon Tech took the lead they did not look back and took set two, 25-23.
After mounting the second set comeback, Oregon Tech jumped out to a quick, 12-4, lead over EOU in the third set and looked as if EOU had no answer. With the Mountaineers down seven, 20-13, EOU mounted a comeback and trimmed the Owls lead to two, 22-20. EOU closed the gap to one point on two different occasions but could not come all the way back and dropped set three, 25-23.
Set 4 would see seven ties with the teams knotted at 10-10 before Eastern Oregon added some breathing room moving up 21-16. With Eastern Oregon ahead by four at 23-18, Oregon Tech followed with four-straight points before EOU went to set point, 24-22, on a
Kayla Randles score. Kylie Kitzmiller and Kelsey Sampson scored on back-to-back kills, tying the set for Owls at 24-24. Both teams next battled through furious rallies to see the set tied for the 13th and final time at 28-28. Oregon Tech freshman Madisen Garlie made it 29-28, and an EOU error giving the Owls the match, 3-1.
EOU was led by
Casey Loper's 21 kills with
Taylor Stewart coming up with 15 and
Stefani Sorensen 14 in the loss.
Karly Stack recorded a match-high 44 assists to go with her 20 digs, while
Katie Keeney anchoring the Mountaineer defense with a team-high 24 digs.
Eastern Oregon returns to action next weekend when they host Corban on Nov. 8 and Northwest Christian the following night. Both matches begin at 7 p.m.
