LA GRANDE, Ore. - In a matchup between two teams on opposite ends of the Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) standings, the Corban University volleyball team came up just short of pulling off a major upset, losing in three tight sets to first-place and 11th-ranked Eastern Oregon University (25-17, 25-17, 25-22). 

"Although we lost in three sets, the team really showed some improvement in their play and determination," commented head coach Tracy Smith. "If we continue to work hard for each point, it will pay off." 

In the opening stanza, the Warriors attacked first, as freshman outside hitter Shantelle Hill (Pasco, Wash.) attacked for three kills, helping Corban to a 6-3 advantage. After Eastern Oregon responded to take a 12-7 lead, kills by freshman middle blocker Sloane Morrison (Edmonds, Wash.) and freshman middle blocker Bethany Filipenko (Salem, Ore.) cut the deficit to one at 13-12. However, the Mountaineers rallied to score eight of the next 10 points en route to a 25-17 set win. 

In the second set, the front line of Hill and senior outside hitter Miah Smith (Albany, Ore.), as well as five unforced errors by Eastern Oregon, brought Corban to within one at 9-8. Trailing 18-10, Smith swooped in to send two kills into Mountaineer territory to give the Corban's offense hope. However, Eastern Oregon managed to keep Corban at bay, taking the stanza, 25-17. 

A close third set saw eight ties and five lead changes, as Corban (3-9, 0-5 CCC) nearly managed to hand Eastern Oregon (14-1, 4-0 CCC) its first set loss in three matches. The Warriors managed to jump out to an 8-3 lead thanks to a trio of kills from Hill and Smith, and a back-and-forth affair found both teams tied at 19 apiece. Smith swung in to give Corban the lead, but that would be the Warriors' final advantage of the match.

As a team, the Navy and Gold dialed in 30 kills and 22 errors for a total of 112 attacks. Corban hit a 0.071 attack percentage compared to 42 kills and a 0.252 mark by Eastern Oregon.

Hill paced the offensive end for Corban with 11 kills and a 0.267 attack percentage. Sophomore setter Haley Meili (Eugene, Ore.) dished out 18 assists for the Warriors, while senior libero Katherine Salness (Portland, Ore.) compiled a match-high 16 digs.

The Mountaineers were led by freshman middle hitter Emily Nay and senior middle hitter Casey Loper, who registered 12 kills apiece. In addition, sophomore setter Rachelle Chamberlain accounted for 35 of the 40 Mountaineer assists.

 Corban returns to action tomorrow to take on The College of Idaho in Caldwell, Idaho, at 5 p.m.