Skip To Main Content
Skip To Main Content
Megan Bunn
Cindy Potter
3
Winner Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) LIND 32-5
2
Eastern Oregon EOU 31-4
Winner
Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) LIND
32-5
3
Final
2
Eastern Oregon EOU
31-4
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 4 5 F
Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) LIND 23 23 25 30 15 (3)
Eastern Oregon EOU 25 25 23 28 13 (2)

Game Recap: Volleyball | | Iain Dexter, EOU Sports Information Director

Bunn Sets EOU Kill Record in 5-Set Loss vs. No. 10 Lindsey Wilson

SIOUX CITY, Iowa. – In perhaps the match of the tournament to this point, the No. 7 Eastern Oregon volleyball team was defeated in a thrilling five-set match (25-23, 25-23, 23-25, 28-30, 13-15), Thursday in the final round of pool play at the NAIA Volleyball Championships.
 
The story of the match for the Mountaineers (31-4) was senior Megan Bunn, who shattered the program single-match kills record with 32 in the loss. Bunn broke the previous record by Grace Deboodt that was set back in 2007 while besting her own personal best by eight kills.
 
Bunn was on fire all night as she hit an impressive .352 on 71 total attacks. She had 27 kills in just four sets, already owning the record before the fifth even began. Bunn had a great connection with junior setter Madison Pilon, who posted a career-high 62 assists that ranks second all-time in program history. Bunn was also two kills short of tying the NAIA tournament record of 34 kills in a match since the format was changed to rally scoring. She has three-straight games with 20 or more kills and 10 or more digs.
 
The other story of the night was in favor of the Blue Raiders (32-5), who made an incredible comeback from down 2-0 in the match. All five sets were decided by just points, showing how even the teams were throughout. This was apparent most in a 30-28 fourth set that went in favor of LWC.
 
The first set of the match was an even one, but got the Mounties off to a good start with a 1-0 lead. With the score tied 22-22, EOU earned three of the final four points with kills by sophomore Jet Taylor, senior Taylor Tibbetts and Bunn.
 
The Mounties used a six-point run early in the second set to take a 13-5 lead over the Raiders. LWC didn't quit there, however, once again working back to tie the score at 22. EOU proved its resilience late, finishing again with three of the final four points, capped off by a block by sophomores Breanna Shaffer and Cambree Scott.
 
Set three was much different as this time Eastern was forced to attempt a late comeback. The Blue Raiders jumped out to leads of 8-2, 11-3 and later 21-12 as they looked well on their way to the victory. EOU had other plans, however, as they rolled off an incredible eight-consecutive points to tie the score at 21. The rally went for not though, with LWC scoring three in a row and taking the set 25-23.
 
Set four proved to be the closest of an extremely close match and the eventual difference in a tight match. EOU used its momentum from the end of set three to jump out to a 9-3 lead. The Blue Raiders maintained their composure and later tied the score at 10-10. The Mounties got back ahead 18-14, but again it was Lindsey Wilson that responded to tie things at 20.
 
The Mounties had the first set point at 24-22, but two points by the Raiders tied the score again. EOU then had set point at 25-24, and 26-25, but could not come away with the match winner. Lindsey Wilson went ahead 28-27, and then again 29-28 before scoring the final point on a block at 30-28.
 
In the final set, EOU reached eight points first with an 8-5 lead after Bunn had four straight kills to start the set. The Mounties were ahead 10-5 before LWC scored six in a row to take a 11-10 lead. The teams continued to battle back-and-forth with the score even at 13-13. However, the Raiders won the final two points with two kills by Elly Burke to win the set 15-13 and the match 3-2.
 
EOU had trouble stopping a couple LWC attackers in Kasia Niderla and Alexis Smith, who posted 28 and 23 kills, respectively. Burke also had 15. Camryn Rich finished with 64 assists and 27 digs. Lauren Larzelere had 30 digs while Burke also added 27.
 
Overall, EOU hit .193 for the match to LWC's .249. The Mounties had 12 blocks and eight aces. Tibbets finished with 12 kills while Shaffer and Taylor had nine each. Scott recorded nine kills and seven block assists.
 
Defensively, junior Kiley McMurtrey posted 27 digs and fellow junior Aspen Christiansen had 23.
 
Due to the loss, EOU will be the No. 2-seed out of Pool G, and forced to face the top-seed of Pool H. By tiebreaker, the third highest ranked team in Westmont (who were receiving votes in the final NAIA Top-25 Poll) won Pool H with a 2-1 record. The Mounties are 2-1 all-time against the Warriors, but have not met up since 2016. First serve is scheduled for 9 a.m. Central, 7 a.m. Pacific Time. EOU will once again host a live stream in the booster area of Quinn Coliseum.
 
For more information on Eastern Oregon volleyball, follow @EOUAthletics or visit eousports.com.
 
FOLLOW EOU ATHLETICS
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube
 
 
Contact: Iain Dexter; 541-962-3946; idexter@eou.edu
 
Print Friendly Version