LEWISTON, Idaho – No. 1 Eastern Oregon University volleyball became the lone undefeated team left in the Cascade Collegiate Conference on Friday night, handing No. 17 Lewis-Clark State College its first loss of the season in four sets (21-25, 25-23, 25-18, 25-14).
With the win, the Mountaineers improve to 15-0 overall and 7-0 in CCC play as they sit alone at the top of the standings. The Warriors now drop to second place at 9-1 overall and 6-1 in conference action.
Keira Vaughn and
Kiauna Mack were at the forefront of EOU's attack, both hitting over .450 percent and combining for 30 of the team's 59 total kills.
Brooke Womack added 10 kills of her own on a .257 percentage, while also contributing three service aces and a team-high 18 digs.
Defensively, the Mounties totaled 12 blocks led by Mack who had seven and
McKenzie Jonas who posted six. Setters
Kate Stidham and
Ava Semprimoznik collected 24 and 23 assists, respectively, and
Jaycee Villastrigo led all players in the match with five aces.
After a five-point swing helped LC State take the opening set, Eastern responded with increasing intensity in each of the following three.
Down early in the second, the Mountaineers rallied with a 6-1 run to tie things up at 15-15. Both teams then continued to battle point-for-point, but EOU sealed the set on a Warrior error and a Villastrigo ace.
Villastrigo picked up right where she left off to start the third, and kills from Womack, Mack, and Jonas helped the Mounties jump ahead 9-6. Eastern worked to build a 20-16 lead and closed strong, winning five of the final seven points to take the set.
The fourth set was all Mountaineers, as EOU opened on a 9-3 run, sparked by back-to-back aces from Womack. Another five-point surge extended the lead to 19-9, and Vaughn closed the door with three kills in the final stretch.
The Mounties continue their road trip on Saturday night, paying a visit to (RV) Walla Walla at 8:30 p.m.
