LA GRANDE, Ore. – No. 1 Eastern Oregon University volleyball extended its winning streak to 13 games on Friday night, sweeping (RV) Bushnell University at home with set scores of 25-21, 28-14, 25-16.
Both teams struggled offensively, but the Mountaineers held the advantage with a .150 hitting percentage to Bushnell's .039. Although they recorded two more kills than EOU, the Beacons (9-6, 3-2 CCC) were hurt most by the Mounties' 10 service aces.
McKenzie Jonas led Eastern with seven kills, followed by
Brooke Womack and
Kiauna Mack who each had six. Mack and Jonas added seven and six blocks, respectively, and Womack had three.
Jaycee Villastrigo owned the back of the court tonight, leading the team in digs with nine, and recording a match-high four aces.
Bushnell gave the Mounties a bit of a scare to start the match, rallying for six-consecutive points to take a significant lead. EOU was able to recover, however, later notching a pair of five-point runs to take back the momentum. Jonas relievingly closed out the set with back-to-back kills off assists from
Kate Stidham.
Eastern got back into its groove in set two, benefitting from seven blocks and three Villastrigo aces. Ahead 15-12, the Mounties took the next eight points despite the interruptions of two Beacon timeouts. The set concluded in favor of EOU, courtesy of a kill and a block by Mack.
Bushnell was not going down without a fight, keeping the final set close until the 16-18 mark. Jonas posted a kill that got the ball rolling for Eastern to claim the next six points and secure the sweep.
Now 13-0 (5-0 CCC), the top-ranked Mountaineers have achieved their 10th sweep of the season, having dropped only four sets total.
EOU will be back in action tomorrow for a true conference test, hosting No. 3 Corban University at 5 p.m.
