SALEM, Ore. – Eighth-ranked Eastern Oregon University Volleyball went a full five sets for the second straight time as the Mountaineers came back from being down 2-0 to defeat No. 13 Corban University 3-2 (15-25, 22-25, 25-14, 27-25, 15-9). With the weekend sweep, EOU improves to 13-0 overall and 12-0 in Cascade Collegiate Conference play.
 
How it Happened
• Both teams hit under .200 for the second straight night as EOU finished at .188 while Corban (9-3, 9-3 CCC) hit .156. The Mountaineers had the slight edge in kills at 61-59 and a 14-7 blocks advantage helped in the comeback win.
• The opening set saw Corban lead early on as the Warriors held the lead for the majority of the set to secure the 25-15 win. An early 8-3 advantage for Corban forced an early EOU timeout. EOU battled back in the set but never got closer than three points.
• Midway through the opening frame, EOU managed to get within three twice. A kill from Breanna Shaffer cut the Warriors lead to 15-12 before they jumped ahead 17-12. EOU scored two straight to cut its deficit to 17-14, but managed just one more point the rest of the set before falling by 10.
• Set No. 2 was a closer battle, but the Warriors were still the victors holding on for a 25-22 win to go up 2-0. It was close in the early going as the two teams were locked in a 4-4 tie. Corban then pieced together a 7-2 run to go up 11-6 and forced a Mountaineers timeout.
• Out of the timeout, the Warriors scored four more points to open their lead to 15-6 before EOU was able to respond. Corban maintained a 5-6 point lead until late in the set when EOU looked to rally from a 21-16 deficit.
• The Mountaineers went on a quick 4-1 run late that got them within two, 22-20, late. A kill from Preslee Jensen got the run started, while an attack error from Corban and kills from Shaffer and Jet Taylor helped. Despite the late surge, Corban held on for the three-point set win.
• With their backs against the wall, the Mountaineers responded and went on to win the next three sets. They got things started with an 11-point win in the third set. Eastern trailed 1-0 to start before going and winning the set 25-14.
• The set was tied at 4-4 early before EOU grabbed the lead and never looked back. The Mountaineers jumped ahead 13-9 as a kill from Jensen put the team up by four and forced a Corban timeout. Out of the break, EOU held the Warriors to just five points the rest of the set.
• The Warriors managed to get within five 15-10 after the timeout, but a 6-0 run by the Mountaineers was the difference maker in the set. Shaffer was the main option for Eastern as she accounted for four of the team's six points in the run. The surge was too much as EOU secured the 25-14 win.
• The fourth set was the toughest of the night. EOU trailed 15-5 in the fourth set before a 20-5 rally tied the set at 25-25. EOU then scored the next two points on kills from Sade Williams to secure the improbable come-from-behind win.
• Corban had everything going its way as they surged out to the 10-point lead. The Mountaineers looked to respond and did slowly as they chipped away at the lead to forced extra points. The Warriors got to match point at 24-19 but a 6-0 run by EOU made it a 25-24 game.
• For the Mountaineers, a kill by Cambree Scott got the run started. Williams was the go-to option late as she scored the final two points of the 6-0 run and scored the final four points of the set to secure the win and tie the match at 2-2.
• The fifth and final set belonged to the Mountaineers as they had all the momentum going in their favor from the previous two sets. Eastern jumped out 4-1 to start the fifth set and forced a Corban timeout.
• Out of the timeout, EOU continued its strong play and got ahead 10-5. The Warriors managed to get within four late when they cut the score to 12-8, but it was not enough. EOU closed out the set with a 3-1 surge that secured the set at 15-9 and the overall match win at 3-2.
 
Mountaineers Stat Leaders
• Sade Williams posted a double-double in the win with a career-high 17 kills and a career-high 21 kills.
• Breanna Shaffer totaled 14 kills in the win to help pace the offense.
• Preslee Jensen chipped in 13 kills to help the offense and helped the front row of the defense with five blocks.
• Jet Taylor posted nine blocks in the win to lead the defensive front row and added seven kills on offense.
• Madison Pilon also had a double-double performance as she posted a season-high 52 assists and tallied 16 digs.
• Kiley McMurtrey led the back row for EOU with a game-high 29 digs.
 
For the Warriors
• Rylee Troutman led the offense with 13 kills and chipped in two blocks on defense.
• Avari Ridgway and Allyson Reid posted 10 kills in the loss. Reid also led the defense with four blocks.
• Ciarra Judson had 23 assists to help lead the offense.
• Jadyn Mullen also had 20-plus assists with 21.
• Kealani Ontai led the Warriors back row with 22 digs.
 
By the Numbers
60 – The Mountaineers totaled 61 kills for the second time this season in Saturday's win.
99 – The 99 digs by EOU on Saturday is the most in a single game this year.
13 – Eastern has now pushed its winning streak to 13 in a row.
52 – The 52 assists from Madison Pilon are a season-high and the second highest in her career in a match.
29 – The 29 block assists by EOU in Saturday's win are the most in a match this season.
 
Up Next
• EOU will return for one last time for the regular season next weekend. The Mountaineers will host the Lewis-Clark State College Warriors April 2-3 inside Quin Coliseum. First serve is set for 7 p.m. on Friday and 5 p.m. on Saturday.

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