KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Eastern Oregon Volleyball remains atop the latest
NAIA Volleyball Coaches' Top 25 Poll, receiving all 18 first-place votes.
The Mountaineers have been nearly untouchable through the early portion of the season, racing out to an undefeated 15-0 overall record and a 4-0 mark in Cascade Conference play. EOU has won all 15 of its matches, including 18 consecutive sets, while dropping just four sets during the preseason. Since the previous poll, the Mountaineers have opened conference play with a perfect 4-0 record, earning sweeps over Evergreen, Northwest, No. 18 Southern Oregon, and Oregon Tech.
As a team, the Mountaineers are hitting .321 while holding opponents to a .107 hitting percentage.
Keira Vaughn leads the attack with 181 kills on the season (3.77 kills per set) and a .399 hitting percentage, while
Brooke Womack (2.92 kills per set) and
Akylah Kaino (2.53 kills per set) provide additional offensive firepower at the net.
EOU's offense is directed by setters
Kate Stidham and
Ava Semprimoznik. Stidham averages 6.86 assists per set, while Semprimoznik has added 25 service aces. Defensively, libero
Jaycee Villastrigo leads the back row with 3.29 digs per set, while
Jule Whitley (1.29 blocks per set) and
Mylie Mills (.96 blocks per set) anchor the front-row defense.
Vaughn currently leads the CCC in total kills (181) and total points (195.5), while ranking second in kills per set (3.77) and fourth in hitting percentage (.399). Womack ranks fourth in the conference in total kills (143). Whitley ranks third in hitting percentage (.409), second in total blocks (63), and third in blocks per set (1.29).
Stidham ranks fourth in the CCC in total assists (336) and assists per set (6.86), while operating in EOU's two-setter system rather than a traditional 5-1 offense. Semprimoznik ranks third in total service aces (25), while
Madison Vaughn ranks fifth with 21. Villastrigo ranks fifth in total digs (161).
The Cascade Conference continues to be well represented in the national poll, with College of Idaho climbing to No. 4, Corban dropping to No. 6, Lewis-Clark Statemoving up to No. 11, and Southern Oregon moving to No. 17. Bushnell continues to receive votes.
Eastern Oregon Volleyball continues deeper into Cascade Conference play this week, returning to the road for a trip west to face Bushnell and Corban.
