Box Score

PORTLAND, Ore. – The Eastern Oregon University volleyball team won its season opener, 3-2 (25-23, 25-27, 25-16, 24-26, 15-8), over Cal State San Marcos on Saturday afternoon.  

Leading the Mountaineers attack was Casey Loper, who recorded 17 kills on the afternoon. Newcomers Kendra De Hoog followed with 16 kills, while Rachelle Chamberlain dished out 39 assists in the victory over the Cougars.

Loper led the Mountaineers to an early lead in set one, as she recorded three kills and paced the Mountaineers to a 7-1 lead over the Cougars. Cal State San Marcos continued to battle back and a lead over EOU, 13-12, after an attack error by Emily Nay.

The remainder of set one went back and forth as neither team took a lead larger than three points. With EOU leading, 19-16, Cal State San Marcos scored the next three points to tie the set at 19. Both teams continued to switch leads and EOU found themselves down 23-22. After an EOU timeout, the Mountaineers scored the next three points, capped off by a Loper kill to take set one, 25-23.

Early in set two, the Mountaineers and Cougars were locked in a tight set. With the score tied at 6-6, EOU scored five of the next six points to take an 11-7 lead. EOU continued to grow the lead out to 16-10. Late in set two, the Cougars started to make a move.

Down 21-17, Cal State San Marcos scored the next three points to trim EOU's lead to 21-20. EOU stretched the lead back to two points twice, 22-20 and 23-21, but could not put the Cougars away. It looked as if EOU would put set two away as they led, 25-24, but Cal State San Marcos took advantage of two attack errors by EOU to take set two, 27-25.

The Cougars took control of set three early as they jumped out to a 12-9 lead. However, EOU responded as they scored outscored the Cougars 14-4 after that point. With the game tied at 16-16, Eastern Oregon scored the next nine points to take set three, 25-16.

Eastern Oregon raced out to an early 9-4 lead over the Cougars in the fourth set. The lead did not last long as the Cougars continued to claw back into the match and tied the set at 12-12 after an attack error by Amanda Miller.

With the fourth set tied at 18-18, EOU took control and pulled ahead by five points, 23-18, after a Nay kill. However, the lead did not stay, EOU let the fourth set slip away. With set and match point and EOU leading, 24-21, the Cougars battled all the way back to score the last five points of the set and take set four, 26-24, and tie the match at 2-2, forcing a fifth set.

The fifth and final set of the day belonged to the Mountaineers, as EOU raced out to a 5-1 lead. EOU continued to control the fifth set as they stretched the lead to 9-3 after an attack error by Ashley Kaylor. EOU continued to stretch the lead to as many as eight points, after a kill by Kasaundra Tuma. The Cougars tried to battle back but could not as Loper capped the set and victory with her 17th kill of the day and EOU took set five, 15-8, to claim a 3-2 victory over the Cougars of Cal State San Marcos.

The Mountaineers return to action on Thursday, Aug. 21st when they travel to Spokane, Wash. to take part in the Sport Travel Northwest Challenge. EOU scrimmages North Idaho College at 12 p.m. and takes on Westminster College (Utah) at 6 p.m.