SALEM, Ore. - No. 12 Eastern Oregon Volleyball is headed back to the CCC Championship match after taking down No. 25 Oregon Tech in a five-set thriller (25-19, 23-25, 25-27, 25-22, 15-8). With the win, the Mountaineers improve to 25-6 on the year.

How it Happened
• Both teams hit the ball well with EOU having the advantage at .293-.264. Defensively up front, OIT (23-6) had the slight edge in blocks at 7-6.
• Service aces were also close with EOU finishing ahead by one at 5-4. OIT led the way in kills at 67-66 and assists, 61-54.
• The start of the first set was all EOU with a quick 9-3 lead that forced an OIT timeout. The Hustlin' Owls stayed within striking distance though.
• OIT got within three at the near midway point of the set at 13-10, but a 5-2 run by Eastern pushed the lead back to five, 17-12.
• The Hustlin' Owls made another push scoring three straight to get within four at 19-15, but a block and kill from EOU made it a 21-15 score late.
• Composure was key for the Mountaineers as they allowed just one more point before taking the one-set lead on a 25-19 win. Pacing EOU in the first set was Sade Williams and Cambree Scott with four kills, respectively.
• In the second set, EOU was able to once again grab the early lead at 6-3, but the Hustlin' Owls once again chipped away at the lead to stay within 2-3 points.
• Midway through the set, OIT cut the EOU lead to one at 12-11 and 13-12. Eastern never allowed OIT to tie the set though and clung to a 17-14 lead approaching the later half of the frame.
• EOU pushed its lead to 19-15 on OIT before a service error kept the set close at 19-16. Kills by EOU kept the team in front but late service errors kept OIT alive for a short while.
• The Mountaineers held on for the set No. 2 win by a final of 25-23. OIT used a 3-0 surge to tie things at 23-all. Following an EOU timeout, OIT ripped off two more points to take the set 25-23 and tied the match at 1-all.
• The Hustlin' Owls win in the second set was the momentum builder for a strong start in the third. OIT jumped ahead 8-1 on the Mountaineers to stay in the driver seat.
• Eastern held focus and cut the Hustlin' Owls lead to just three, 8-5. The two two traded points the rest of the way, with OIT staying in front the majority of the set.
• The lead for OIT grew to 13-6 at the midway point of the set. EOU managed to get within four, 14-10, but the Hustlin' Owls once again surged to go up 16-10.
• Eastern responded with a short 3-0 to make it a 16-13 score and forced an OIT timeout. Out of the timeout, the Mountaineers used a 4-1 run to tie the contest at 17-all late.
• EOU managed to tie the set once again at 18-18 before a 4-0 run put OIT up 22-18. Eastern responded with a 5-1 run to tie the frame up once again at 23-23.
• Extra points were needed to determine as the two teams continued to trade points. OIT held off the EOU's comeback efforts and walked away on top 27-25.
• EOU jumped ahead 5-2 to start the fourth set  and maintained a 2-3 point lead. OIT got within one twice at 8-7 and 9-8 before tying the set at 9-all.
• The two teams once again traded points midway through the set before EOU surged ahead 17-14 to force an OIT timeout.
• EOU's lead grew to 21-17 but OIT responded with a 3-0 surge to get within one, 21-20. EOU called timeout and out of the quick break the team ended the set with a 5-2 run to win 25-22.
• The fifth set was a battle from the on-set as early on the two squads were locked at a 5-5 tie. OIT then scored back-to-back points after being down 6-5 top go ahead 7-6.
• EOU answered, scoring two straight as well to jump back in front, 8-7. An attack error by the Hustlin' Owls then made it a 9-7 lead for Eastern to force an OIT timeout.
• EOU's lead grew to 10-7 before OIT scored again to stay within two at 10-8. The Mountaineers then closed out the frame with a 5-0 run to secure the fifth set win and the 3-2 match victory.

Mountaineers Stat Leaders
• Sade Williams led the offense with 16 kills and hit .295
• Cambree Scott added 15 kills in the win, hitting .414 and led the way up front with three blocks.
• Breanna Shaffer posted 12 kills on a .282 attack clip and had a pair of blocks.
• Alexis McMurtrey had a double-double with 33 assists and 16 digs
• Hailey Arritola led the back row with 18 digs and had two service aces
• Preslee Jensen chipped in nine kills and racked up two blocks.

For the Hustlin' Owls
• Faith Houck-Wylie led all players with 20 kills and hit .395.
• Nicole Reyes tallied 17 kills and had 12 digs for a doubled-double.
• Kaylin Talonen had 16 kills in the loss and three blocks.
• Courtney Isom had 31 assists, while Brooke Cassidy added 28.
• Aubrey Kievet led the back row with 22 digs.
• Kate Hicks led all players with a match-high five blocks

By the Numbers
2 - EOU now has the series lead on OIT at 2-1 this season. 
4 - The Mountaineers have now made it to each of the last four CCC Championship matches.
2 - Friday's win is just the second five-set victory for EOU this season.
6 - Friday's win is also the sixth for Eastern in a neutral site match.

Up Next
• The Mountaineers wil face top-seeded and regular season champion Corban tomorrow, Saturday, Nov. 13 at 3 p.m. PT.
• With Corban making the Championship match, EOU will automatically receive the other CCC qualifying bid to the NAIA National Tournament.

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