SALEM, Ore. – No. 8 Eastern Oregon University Volleyball had to go the full five sets in its top-15 showdown with the No. 13 Corban University but was the victor regardless winning 3-2 (27-25, 19-25, 25-17, 22-25, 15-10). The Mountaineers now improve to 12-0 overall and 11-0 in Cascade Collegiate Conference play.
 
How it Happened
• Both teams hit under .200 for the match with EOU leading the way at .199, while Corban (9-2, 9-2 CCC) was just .144 for the night. Helping the Mountaineers in the win was a 15-8 edge in blocks and 37 attack errors by Corban. EOU just had 24 attack errors in the win despite Corban racking up more kills, 64-57.
• The first set needed extra points to determine a winner despite a strong start from the Mountaineers who got out to an 8-0 start before the Warriors scored a point. Attack errors by the Warriors helped EOU get in front and a service ace by Madison Pilon capped off the run.
• Despite the strong surge to start, EOU saw its lead slowly shrink as the Warriors climbed back into the contest. Corban managed to cut the Eastern lead to five, 15-10, before a timeout by the Mountaineers was called. The Mountaineers answered out of the timeout getting up 17-11 before the Warriors made it interesting late.
• The Mountaineers managed to stay in front for the majority of the contest before a late rally by the Warriors tied it up at 24-all and forced the opening set into extra points to determine a winner. Corban got in front 25-24 before kills from Breanna Shaffer and Madison Morgan ended the set at 27-25.
• Set No. 2 fell in the Warriors favor as they took the set 25-19 to even the match out at 1-all. EOU kept it close early on at a 4-4 tie but a 5-1 run by the Warriors allowed them to get in front 10-5. The small scoring surge was the difference as Eastern never got back any closer than two points the rest of the set.
• Midway through the second set, the Warriors managed to extend their lead to 16-10. Eastern slowly chipped away at the Corban lead and managed to make it a 21-19 score late in the frame. The Warriors responded scoring the final four points to take the set by six and tie things up at 1-1.
• Eastern had a solid response in the third set winning by eight, 25-17, to retake the match lead at 2-1. The Mountaineers had a strong start scoring wise and this time they did not let the lead fall apart. Tied at 3-all, EOU went on a 10-0 run and never looked back.
• The Mountaineers run was started on a kill by Sade Williams and she was the one to cap the run off with another kill to make it a 13-3 advantage. From that point one, EOU never let the Warriors get any closer than five points the rest of the way to cruise to the third set win.
• Set No. 4 was another close battle with the Warriors winning by three, 25-22, to force a fifth and decisive set. The score was tight through the early going with the two teams fighting to a 7-7 tie. A 5-1 scoring surge from the Warriors then put them up 12-8 and they never trailed again in the set.
• Corban managed to stay in front by 2-4 points for much of the remainder of the set until late as the Mountaineers forced the issue and nearly won in four sets. Eastern tied the game at 21-all on a double block from Cambree Scott and Sade Williams.
• Corban went back up by one on a kill, but Preslee Jensen responded with a kill of her own to notch it back at 22-22. The Warriors then closed out the fourth set scoring the next three points and forced the Mountaineers to play a fifth set for just the second time this season.
• The fifth set got off to a great start for the Warriors as they jumped out 4-1 and forced a quick timeout by the Mountaineers. Out of the timeout, Corban continued to play well and managed to stay in front grabbing an 8-5 lead midway through the finale.
• Maintaining it composure, EOU answered going on a 5-0 run to go ahead 10-8. A kill from Scott sparked the run and it was finished off with a kill from Shaffer that forced a Corban timeout. Despite the timeout, the Mountaineers did not allow the Warriors to end their momentum and held them to just two points the rest of the set.
• Corban cut the EOU lead to one, 10-9, out of the short break but another kill from Shaffer ignited a 5-1 run to end the set and secure the win for Eastern. She had two kills in the run and it was jet Taylor who played a light touch attack to find the floor and end the fifth set by a final of 15-10.
 
Mountaineers Stat Leaders
• Breanna Shaffer was one of three Mountaineers with double-digit kills finishing 14 on a .308 hitting percentage. She also had four blocks in the win to help anchor the defense.
• Preslee Jensen racked up 12 kills and also had four blocks in the win.
• Sade Williams posted a double-double with 11 kills and chipped in 10 digs for EOU. She also finished with two blocks.
• Madison Pilon tallied 31 assists in the win and had a double-double night as well with 15 digs. She also had two service aces in the win.
• Kiley McMurtrey tallied a game-high 22 digs in five sets and had a pair of assists.
• Jet Taylor led all players with a game-high 10 blocks to anchor the defensive front row. She also chipped in five kills on offense.
 
For the Warriors
• Sarena Bartley led all players with a game-high 18 kills and hit .371 in the five-set loss. She also had two blocks in the match.
• Avari Ridgway posted 13 kills and had eight digs in the match.
• Ally Tow also posted 13 kills on the night and had two blocks.
• Jadyn Mullen and Ciarra Judson both had 20-plus assists with 27 and 25, respectively. Judson also had a double-double with 10 digs in the loss.
• Kealani Ontai tied a game-high in digs with 22.

By the Numbers
1 – This is the first time this season an opponent had more kills than EOU.
2 – Eastern has now played to five set in just two contests this season, winning both.
28 – The Mountaineers 28 blocks assists are most in a match this season.
12 – EOU has now run its winning streak to 12 straight games.
3 – With the win on Friday night, EOU has now won each of its last three matchups against the Warriors.
71 – Madison Pilon has now posted double figure assists in 71 consecutive matches.
 
Up Next
• EOU and Corban will duke it out once tomorrow night (Saturday). First serve time against the Warriors is set for 7 p.m. PT yet again in Salem.

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