LA GRANDE, Ore. – Despite battling back from down two games to none to even the sets at two apiece, the (RV) Corban University volleyball team dropped a heartbreaking fifth set to fall just short against the No. 13-ranked Eastern Oregon Mountaineers on the road on Friday evening (25-18, 25-22, 20-25, 23, 25, 15-11). The defeat marks the second time this season the Mountaineers have edged the Warriors in five sets.

"It took us the first two sets to start finding our rhythm," said head coach Kim McLain. "We had to battle through for every point! It was not the outcome we wanted, but I was proud of how the girls fought to the end."

The explosive Mountaineer attack was on full display in the match's early going, with Eastern Oregon's trio of Megan Bunn (22 kills, .293 attack percentage), Taylor Tibbetts (14 kills, .363 attack percentage) and Hailee Ackerman (11 kills, .154 attack percentage) paving the way.

After dropping the first two sets, the Warriors showed impressive resiliency in one of the Cascade Collegiate Conference's (CCC) most hostile environments, claiming sets three and four to force a deciding fifth game. In the end, the Mountaineers were able to endure Corban's late surge, holding on for a 15-11 triumph in the thrilling final frame.

Adriana Aguayo delivered one of her best performances of the season in the defeat, finishing the night with 21 kills while hitting at a .320 clip. Warrior rookie Tori Edwards was similarly impressive, notching 12 kills on a .321 attack percentage.

On the defensive end, Kealani Ontai (35), Lauren Condon (29) and Madison Pfaff (20) all finished the night with at least 20 digs to spearhead the Warrior defense, with McLain's two-setter tandem of Cierra Leopoldino and Jadyn Mullen combining for 63 assists on the evening.

Though a difficult loss, the Warriors will need to regroup quickly as the team looks ahead to yet another crucial CCC road match against a top-25 opponent.

The Navy and Gold (16-9, 12-4 CCC) will continue the trek east as the team prepares to take on the No. 16-ranked College of Idaho Yotes on Saturday, with first serve in Caldwell slated for 7 p.m. MST.