BUTTE, Mont. – Just a couple hours after suffering its first defeat of the 2015 campaign, the No. 6 Eastern Oregon University volleyball team bounced right back by collecting its second five-set thriller in the last four matches.

"After facing two tough opponents today, I thought that we learned a lot and will hopefully benefit from this weekend as we move forward to conference play," said head volleyball coach Kaki McLean Morehead. "We accomplished a few of our goals for preseason and are looking forward to the next step."

In what was the first NAIA Volleyball Match of the Week, the Mountaineers fell to No. 5 Rocky Mountain College, 3-1 (24-26, 14-25, 25-23, 23-25). Then, EOU managed to fend off a late comeback attempt by No. 8 Vanguard, as the Mountaineers took home another five set (25-20, 25-19, 23-25, 22-25, 15-13) thriller and its first top-25 victory of the season.

No. 6 EOU def. No. 8 Vanguard, 3-2 (25-20, 25-19, 23-25, 22-25, 15-13)

In its final match of the 2015 Big Sky Challenge, EOU held off Vanguard in five frames after the Mountaineers nearly escaped with a three-set victory. 

Sophomore middle hitter Emily Nay continued her hot streak, as she registered 17 kills and four blocks (3 assists, 1 solo) for EOU. Meanwhile, junior outside hitter Sierra Linke added a double-double with 12 kills and 10 digs.

Although the Lions swung for a better hitting percentage (.134 to .160), the Mountaineers tallied five more kills on 19 more attempts.

Senior defensive specialist Piper Cantrell paced EOU's defensive effort with 24 digs, while junior setter Rachelle Chamberlain collected her fourth double-double of the season (51 assists, 14 digs).

No. 5 Rocky Mountain def. No. 6 EOU (24-26, 14-25, 25-23, 23-25)

In match one, EOU couldn't brush off the early-morning weariness, as the Mountaineers swung its lowest hitting percentage (.126) of the season and fell victim to Rocky Mountain in four sets.

Tuma and Nay contributed 11 kills apiece, while Linke chipped in 10 kills with three errors on 27 attempts for EOU's best attack percentage (.259) of the match.

Both Tuma and sophomore right side hitter Isabelle Statkus were critical on the defensive front, as they added seven blocks apiece.

EOU coughed up its most attacking (31) and receiving (8) errors in a single match in 2015 en route to the defeat.

The Mountaineers (5-1) return to the hardwood on Sept. 3 for their Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) opener against College of Idaho in Caldwell, Idaho, at 7 p.m. MT.