CALDWELL, Idaho – No. 6 ranked Eastern Oregon claimed a key four-set road victory over No. 14 ranked College of Idaho inside the J.A. Albertson Activities Center in the Stretch Internet NAIA Game of the Week.
The Mountaineers (6-1, 1-0 CCC) held off a spirited C of I rally to earn the 25-19, 26-24, 22-25, 25-20 victory in the Cascade Conference opener for both teams.
EOU broke away from an 11-11 tie in Set 1, using a 9-3 run – including two kills and a block assist from Isabelle Statkus, to earn the set win.
Set 2 featured 12 ties and four lead changes, with the Yotes (2-7, 0-1) rattling off 5-of-6 points late in the frame to take a 23-21 lead. Emily Nay answered for Eastern, roping back-to-back kills and adding a block to give the Mounties set point, with a C of I hitting error giving EOU a two set lead.
A back-and-forth Set 3 got the large crowd into the match, as the Coyotes used a pair of five-point surges to take a 14-9 lead. EOU clawed back into the period, getting within 21-19 on a C of I hitting error. However, the teams combined to side-out the final eight serves of the set, forcing a fourth frame.
In Set 4, the Yotes took a 7-5 lead on an Abbey Fenton kill, but three EOU blocks and a service ace keyed a 7-2 spurt by the Mounties, with the hosts not able to draw even the rest of the way.
Nay had 13 kills and eight blocks, Statkus had 12 kills and nine blocks, with Amanda Miller adding 13 kills in the victory for EOU. Rachelle Chamberlain led all players with 49 assists and Piper Cantrell had 22 digs.
Randi Sturtz, Kylie Porter, and Katy Robinson all had 11 kills to lead C of I; Sierra Porter logged a double-double with 41 assists and 12 digs; Jackie van Vliet had a team-high seven blocks; and Kilee Lopez led all players with 23 digs.
C of I returns to action tomorrow night, hosting Walla Walla at 5:30 p.m.
