SIOUX CITY, Iowa – The Eastern Oregon University volleyball team suffered their first loss in pool play, as No. 2 Park University defeated EOU, 3-1 (18-25, 17-25, 25-17, 22-25), on the second day of action at the 2014 NAIA Volleyball National Championship, presented by J&L Enterprises. The Mountaineers became the third team all season to take a set off of Park.

The top two teams from each pool will advance to the single-elimination bracket, starting Dec. 5

For the second straight day, Katina Ferguson led the Mountaineers with 13 kills. Casey Loper followed with 12 kills. Jessalyn Smith recorded a game-high 25 digs and she became the single season school record holder for digs.

Wendy Romero of Park recorded a game-high 25 kills, as she hit .468 on the day. Romero led the Pirates to their 36th win of the season. Park is the only undefeated team left in the nation.

The Pirates came out swinging against the Mountaineers and raced to an early 9-5, lead over EOU. The Mountaineers continued to battle but never could mount any kind of comeback. The Pirates lead slowly grew to nine points, 22-13, after an attack error by Isabelle Statkus. EOU continued to chip away and trimmed the lead down to six, 24-18, but could not come all the way back and dropped set one, 25-18.

Early in set two, the Mountaineers came out and took a lead of three, 8-5, after two errors by the Pirates. Eastern Oregon could not hang onto the lead and Park came back to tie the match at, 9-9, before starting to pull away from EOU. EOU could not come back and dropped set two, 25-17.

EOU came out clicking in set three as they jumped out to an early, 7-3, lead over Park. The Pirates were not going to go away easily and tied the set at 9-9. After a kill by Loper put EOU ahead, 10-9, the Mountaineers did not trail again in the set. EOU slowly started to pull away and a kill by Ferguson gave EOU a seven point lead, 21-14. A kill by Kendra De Hoog gave EOU a 25-17, set win.

The fourth set was a back and forth, as there were 12 ties and 12 lead changes. After the first 18 points of the set, EOU and Park found themselves tied at, 9-9. Park looked to be sending the lead and after an ace by Sabrine e Silva putting Park ahead, 13-10, the Mountaineers took a time out.

Coming out of the time out, the Mountaineers responded by tying the set back at 16-16. The Pirates responded by taking a two point lead and the Mountaineers continued to battle and tied the set at 20-20, after an ace by Piper Cantrell. Park continued to battle and took a 23-21 lead and EOU could not battle back and dropped set four, 25-22, and the match 3-1.  

The Mountaineers return to action tomorrow, Dec. 4 when they wrap up pool play against Evangel (Mo.) at 11 a.m. PT. EOU will be having a watch party in Quinn Coliseum in the new Booster area, if you are interested in watching the game.  EOU parking regulations will be enforced.