PORTLAND, Ore. – Coming up against the highest ranked NAIA Top 25 opponent in school history, the Multnomah University volleyball team drop three sets (4-25, 12-25, 25-27) to seventh-ranked Eastern Oregon on Saturday night in Jim Skagen Court.
The Lions move to 1-8 overall on the season, and drop to 0-8 in the Cascade Collegiate Conference. With the win, Eastern Oregon stays in a tie for first place improving to 13-1, 8-0 CCC.
How it Happened: The Mountaineers used a .394 hitting percentage in the first set to take a commanding lead over the Lions. EOU strung together point after point, as they took the first set 25-4. MU had little improvement in the second set earning a positive hitting percentage, but found a little life towards the end, pushing the score to 12-25 at the end.
Despite dropping the first two sets, MU fought in the final set as they led the majority of hit. The Lions found their largest lead of the night in the third set with the score 8-4. As the Mountaineers looked to end the match, Multnomah continued to find ways to stay in the game. With the score at 19-22 in favor of Eastern, the Lions scored five of the next seven points to tie it 24-24 before an attack error finally gave the win to EOU.
By the Numbers: Sophomore
Patty Batoon recorded a match high 10 kills while freshman
Miranda Halverson added seven of her own. Freshman setter
Marissa Rhodes tallied a team high 19 kills and two kills, including one that sparked the Lions run late in the third set.
For the Mountaineers, setter Rachelle Chamberlain totaled a match high 30 assists as she orchestrated her teams attack which ended with a .335 attacking percentage. Emily Nay and Isabelle Statkus each had nine kills while Amanda Miller added eight of her own.
From the Coach: "Im proud of the way the girls rallied in the third set," said head coach
Jenna Bouey, "Batoon and Halverson had some huge plays for us at the net and the team fought back and played really well."
Coming Up Next: The Lions will prepare for another road trip as they head south to face Corban on Friday followed by Northwest Christian on Saturday.
