SALEM, Ore. – Despite taking a lead in all three sets in its 2015 home-opener, the Corban University volleyball team could not finish off the No. 8 Eastern Oregon University Mountaineers in any of the stanzas, as EOU came back to win each set en route to a straight-set triumph over the Warriors (25-23, 25-21, 25-21). The loss for Corban is its third in Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) play, with all games finishing very competitively.
Game Photos
Click 'Play Button' on story photo above for video highlights.
"The girls showed so much heart against a very well-oiled EOU team," said Corban head coach Kim McLain. "We just didn't have enough fire-power to finish each set. I can't say enough about our defense which fought so hard! If we can keep our unforced errors down, I can see us right in there!"
In what was a very back and forth first set, Corban nabbed the lead at 21-19, and 22-20, but EOU responded, tying the contest at 23-23. The Mountaineers then finished the Warriors off, showing whey they are the No. 8 team in the country with two-straight points to close out the first stanza.
In the second set, junior middle-blocker Hannah Olson (Coos Bay, Ore.) led the way early for Corban with some key kills, pushing Corban in front 13-7. Once again, however, Eastern Oregon responded, closing out the stanza on an 18-8 run to go up 2-0.
Sophomore middle-blocker Sloane Morrison (Edmonds, Wash.) gave the Navy and Gold a spark in the third set after the brief intermission, uncorking a pair of kills to put Corban on top 13-8. Amanda Miller came right back for EOU, however, notching a kill of her own to give Eastern Oregon some momentum. The set was eventually tied up at 21-21, but the Mountaineers then scored four-straight points to take the set and the match.
For Eastern Oregon (8-1, 3-0 CCC), Amanda Miller led the way with 12 kills, while Rachelle Chamberlain totaled 32 assists. Defensively, everyone was involved for Eastern Oregon, but it was Piper Cantrell who notched a team-best 10 digs.
For the Warriors (2-7, 0-3 CCC), sophomore outside-hitter Amber Parker (Albany, Ore.) led the way with a game-high 14 kills, while freshman setter Madison McLain (Albany, Ore.) registered a game-high 35 digs. Sophomore libero Haley Wells (Albany, Ore.) tallied 17 digs to lead the way defensively, while sophomore defensive-specialist Kasey Calderon (Murrieta, Calif.) recorded 14 digs for the Navy and Gold.
Corban returns to the court tomorrow evening vs. The College of Idaho. First serve against the Yotes in the C.E. Jeffers Sports Center is set for 5 p.m.
