CALDWELL, Id. – Despite a career high 18 kills from Oregon Tech sophomore
Kaylin Talonen in the second match, the Lady Owls dropped a pair of 4-set matches to No. 9 Eastern Oregon University Saturday as part of the Cascade Conference Pod inside the J.A. Albertson Activities Center.
The Owls (5-2, 2-2 CCC) dropped the morning match to EOU 3-1, (25-20, 25-19, 22-25, 25-16). Tech opened the second match with a 26-24 first set win. The Mountaineers then took set 2, 27-25 in the best set of the weekend. OIT seemed to run out of steam, dropping the final two sets 25-14 and 25-19 to lose 3-1.
"I was excited for us to play a top 10 team and a program that is consistently at the top of our conference," said head coach Ken Murczek. "This was a great measuring stick for us and a tremendous learning opportunity. I took some notes on areas that we need to improve and I am excited to get back in the gym with our group to address those areas. We had some opportunities to go up 2-0 in the second match and unfortunately didn't capitalize."
Match One: EOU def. OIT 3-1 (25-20, 25-19, 22-25, 25-16)
The first set was very competitive with 9 ties, the last coming at 18-18 before EOU scored seven of the last nine points to win 25-20.
The second set started much like the first set, then tied at seven. EOU won the next seven points and didn't look back, winning 25-19.
In the third set, tied at 18, Oregon Tech made a big move, winning seven of the next 10 points to upset EOU 25-22.
The fourth set looked like Eastern would run away with it, taking a 15-11 lead. The Owls then rallied to tie the set at 15-15. The Mountaineers proved to be too strong, taking 10 out of the next 11-points to win 25-16 in the set and took the match 3-1.
Talonen and
Faith Houck-Wylie led the Owls with 11-kills each with senior
Ireland Bennett adding 10-kills in the loss. Tech was held to a kill percentage of .159 while EOU swung at a .302 pace.
Match Two: EOU def. OIT 3-1 (24-26, 27-25, 25-14, and 25-19)
Two hours later in the second match, Tech came out on fire taking a 12-10 lead. Eastern tied the set at 14, 15, 18, 20, 21 and 24 before OIT won the last two points to win 26-24.
Tech started with a 5-3 lead but Eastern came roaring back taking a 13-8 lead before the Owls tied the set at 14, 15, with the Owls taking their last lead at 23-21 before EOU finished off the set 27-25.
The Mounties dominated the third set 25-14 and then finished off Tech, winning the last set 25-19.
Talonen led with her career high 18 kills in the match with
Nicole Reyes and Houck-Wylie adding 11-kills each. Tech was held to .153 kill percentage while EOU held strong at .264 for the match.
The Owls return to Cascade Conference action in Pod 2 at Lewis-Clark State College in Lewiston, Idaho on March 5 & 6. Tech will open the hybrid round with two matches against the host L-C State on the 5
th then take on Corban University in two matches on the 6
th.
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