Oregon Institute of Technology Athletics

COMING UP: at Simpson (DH), Tuesday, 2 p.m.; at William Jessup, Thursday, 1 p.m.; vs. Menlo (at WJU), Friday, 9 a.m.

COMPLETE WEEKLY MEDIA NOTEBOOK

VIDEO / STATS: Live Video and Live Stats for Tuesday's matches at Simpson will be available through SU's Stretch Internet Portal. Thursday and Friday, Live Video will be provided through the GSAC Sports Network, with Live Stats via the GSAC Stats Portal.
 
ON TO CALIFORNIA: The Lady Owls hit the road this week, playing four matches in Northern California – the 16th-straight season OIT has competed in the Golden State. Since volleyball returned to the campus in 1998, Tech has played a match in California every season except 2006, with the Owls winning 15 of their last 18 games in their neighboring state since 2017.
 
A DOUBLEHEADER: Prior to the 2021 spring season, a doubleheader in volleyball against the same opponent was not typical – but things have changed – and Tech will travel Tuesday to Redding for back-to-back games against Simpson. Outside of the COVID-challenged season, OIT has played just one doubleheader against the same foe – two matches in the same day against UC Merced in 2014. OIT has played back-to-back matches (on different days) five times – against Corban in 2008, Bethany in 2009, Pacific Union and Concordia-Portland in 2014 and Simpson last season.
 
ABOUT SIMPSON: The Redhawks (0-2) finished 2021 with a 9-16 record and opened the new season with 3-set losses to Menlo and Lewis-Clark State. Outside hitters Kendall Welpott (3.46 k/s, 2.09 d/s) and Tiana Nihipali (1.78 k/s, 2.19 d/s) are the top returning offensive threats, with setter Kayla Somontan (4.58 a/s) also back. OIT has won the past 11 meetings between the teams has an 8-1 record vs. SU in Redding.
 
DUELING WITH THE GSAC: OIT heads south to Rocklin for matches against Golden State Athletic Conference foes William Jessup and Menlo. The GSAC has had a lot of turnover in the last 10 years – with only two original members remaining (Vanguard and Westmont). Tech has a 27-25 all-time record against GSAC schools – including a 24-10 record against current members (six schools have left for either the NCAA Division I or II).
 
ABOUT WILLIAM JESSUP: First up for the Owls is the Warriors (0-1), who opened the season with a loss to Lewis-Clark State. WJU returns three key players from last season's 11-14 squad that outlasted Tech in an early season matchup – outside hitter Madalyn Miller (1.83 k/s, 0.37 b/s), setter Mallory Paxin (4.93 a/s, 1.68 d/s) and libero Lauren Toon (3.49 d/s). OIT holds an 11-4 series lead over Jessup, including a 4-2 mark in Warrior Arena.
 
ABOUT MENLO: The non-conference slate ends Friday with a morning match against the Oaks (3-1) – a squad off to a solid start after wins over Simpson, Pacific Union and UC Merced. Menlo lost their top-two hitters from last season's 7-16 team, but Katharine Mumm (1.79 k/s, 1.75 d/s, 0.37 b/s) has been the go-to hitter in the early campaign. Setter Paige Harmann (5.18 a/s, 2.31 d/s) also returns for the Oaks, who have lost the past four matches to the Owls.
 
KIEVIT BREAKS DIGS MARK: Despite a season-opening loss to Concordia (Neb.), OIT had impressive individual performances – none bigger than libero Aubrey Kievit. The senior established a new 4-set single-match dig record, posting 32 against the Top-25 team – surpassing the previous record of 30 set four times. Kievit becomes the first Lady Owl to have multiple matches with 32-or-more digs, with the 32 digs tied for fifth overall on the OIT single match list.
 
REYES OPENS WITH A 20-10 MATCH: Offensively, Nicole Reyes picked up where she left off in 2021 – filling the stat sheet with 20 kills and 10 digs against the Nebraska side. The fifth-year senior posted her fifth career match with 20-or-more kills and her 44th double-double.
 
TALONEN HAS QUALITY OPENING WEEKEND: Kaylin Talonen had a consistent trip to Ashland, recording double-digit kills in both matches – the 12th time in her last 14 outings she has posted 10-or-more kills. The senior had 15 kills against Concordia and followed it up with a team-best 14 kills in a loss to Park-Gilbert.
 
GRACE FILLS BIG ROLE: Sophomore Molly Grace has assumed the top spot at the right pin and showcased her skills in the Rogue Valley. Grace logged eight kills against Concordia and posted her third double-digit kill match of her career, adding 11 kills vs. Park-Gilbert – hitting at a solid .281 clip for the weekend.
 
SETTERS SPLIT TIME: The Owls ran a 2-setter attack throughout the Raider Invitational, as Courtney Isom and Paige Tevelde exchanged back-row setting duties. Isom combined for 53 assists and 17 digs – including her seventh career double-double vs. Concordia (30-10), while Tevelde had 45 assists and 14 digs, including a career-high 26 assists vs. Concordia.
 
DEBUTS IN THE BLUE AND GOLD: Five players made their OIT debuts at the Raider Invitational, including opposite hitter Savanna Sterck, who combined for 16 kills on the weekend. Middle Alma Solis (three kills, two aces) and Willow Jacobson (two kills) saw action on the front row, while defensive specialists Kaley Whalen (14 digs, 2 aces) and Abigail Sorensen (three digs) had back row duties.
 
AROUND THE LEAGUE: Eight teams were in action last weekend – with Cascade Conference sides picking up big wins. Eastern Oregon earned victories over No. 2 Jamestown and No. 5 Midland; Corban toppled No. 3 Bellevue, while Bushnell earned a win against No. 10 Providence. Every CCC team will be in action this weekend – the final tune-ups prior to the start of the 22-match league schedule on Sept. 2.  
 
TECH PICKED THIRD IN CCC PRESEASON POLL: For the first time since 2008, OIT was picked third in the Cascade Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll, released in early August. Corban was the unanimous favorite, followed by Eastern Oregon and the Lady Owls, with Bushnell and Northwest rounding out the Top-5. Tech finished 18-4 in CCC play in 2021 – the fifth time in program history the Owls have placed third in the final league standings.
 
LADY OWLS OPEN IN TOP-25 FOR FIRST TIME: After ending a 13-year national poll drought in 2021, the Lady Owls made history last week, cracking the Preseason NAIA Top-25 for the first time ever. Tech opens the new year ranked No. 19 – the highest poll position since earning a No. 17 ranking in September of 2008. OIT is one of three CCC teams in the poll – joining No. 7-ranked Corban and No. 12-ranked Eastern Oregon.
 
RECORD BOOK: Six current players rank among the Top-15 in the OIT career record book. Nicole Reyes leads the way, ranking No. 6 in kills (889), No. 9 in digs (942), No. 10 in aces (85) and No. 14 in sets played (363) – while ranking just outside the Top-15 in matches played (101). Aubrey Kievit is No. 3 in digs (1,311), Courtney Isom is No. 10 in assists (1,115), Kaylin Talonen is No. 10 in kills (697), Brooke Cassidy is No. 13 in assists (520), with Ashley Ripplinger No. 14 in blocks (200).
 
LOOKING AHEAD: OIT opens the home season next weekend, hosting Lewis-Clark State (Friday at 7 p.m.) and Walla Walla (Saturday at 9 p.m.)