OLYMPIA, Wash. -The Evergreen Geoducks got off to a slow start Friday night inside Costantino Recreation Center, but once they heated up it was all over for the visiting Oregon Tech Owls in Cascade Collegiate Conference volleyball action.
Evergreen (7-9 overall, 5-2 CCC) improved to 3-0 on its home court this season with a 21-25, 25-20, 25-19, 25-15 victory over Oregon Tech (9-6, 4-4) to move into a tie with nationally ranked College of Idaho for fourth place in the standings.
Chase Bohman had seven of her match-high 23 kills and Oregon Tech hit .282 as a team in taking the opening set, which featured nine ties and one lead change. The Geoducks didn't play that poorly on offense, hitting .265 in the set, but that turned out to be no more than a warm up for the home team.
Evergreen hit .387 in the second set, .371 in the third and .394 in the fourth to finish the match at .353, their best of the season, eclipsing a .335 in a five-set non-conference victory over Dickinson State. There were just two lead changes and six ties over the final three sets as the Geoduck offense went into high gear to keep the visiting Owls at bay.
Senior Natalie Taylor added to her school records for kills and attack attempts, finishing the contest with 21 kills and just two errors in 44 swings for a .432 attack percentage. Junior Renita Gray was nearly as impressive with 17 kills and four errors on 36 swings for a .361 mark. Middles Chloee Hunt and Tasha Hungate combined for 10 kills and freshman setter Sierra Wolff continued her outstanding play with 46 assists as the Geoducks put on an impressive offensive display.
Bohman was sharp for Oregon Tech, hitting .262 in addition to leading all players with 19 digs.
Jaime Toedtemeier dished out 32 assists for the Owls, who finished with a .206 attack percentage.
Taylor led the Evergreen defense with 12 digs and she was joined by Wolff and Hungate with two service aces apiece.
Evergreen will attempt to remain unbeaten on its home court this season when No. 9-ranked Southern Oregon visits for another conference match. The Raiders were upset by hosts Northwest University in five sets this evening. Oregon Tech is also in action, traveling to Kirkland to play Northwest.
