LA GRANDE, Ore. – Top-ranked Eastern Oregon University volleyball dropped a hard-fought four-set match to (RV) Southern Oregon on Saturday evening, 25-20, 14-25, 25-23, 25-17, inside Quinn Coliseum.
The Mountaineers (22-2, 14-2 CCC) had stretches of their usual high-level play, but couldn't quite sustain it against a red-hot Raider squad. After dropping the opening set, EOU stormed back with a dominant second, hitting .545 and cruising to a 25-14 win to even the match. However, the third set proved pivotal as the Mounties led late but couldn't close it out. SOU rallied to steal it 25-23, then carried that momentum into the fourth to finish the upset.
The loss also marked Eastern's first home defeat in nearly a year, with the last one coming against the same Southern Oregon program in the 2024 CCC Championship match.
Kiauna Mack and
Keira Vaughn led the attack with 12 kills apiece, with Mack adding eight blocks.
Emma Burlingame was steady with 10 kills on .389 hitting, and
Brooke Womack anchored the defense with 12 digs. Setters
Ava Semprimoznik and
Kate Stidham kept the offense moving, distributing 24 assists each as the Mountaineers finished with 55 kills on a .214 clip.
The Raiders' block and late-set execution proved the difference, as SOU (11-12, 8-8 CCC) totaled 13 blocks and hit .243 while limiting EOU's rhythm. Friley Curtiss paced Southern with 17 kills and six blocks, while Tessa Zimmermann added eight blocks in a strong defensive effort.
Eastern Oregon will look to bounce back quickly as the Mounties return to Quinn Coliseum on Wednesday at 7 p.m. for a rivalry matchup with I-84 foe College of Idaho.
