LEWISTON, Idaho – Molly Grace had 16 kills and a career-high 19 digs to lead Oregon Tech, but Lewis-Clark State rallied to top the Lady Owls 12-25, 25-22, 25-20, 25-20, inside the P1FCU Activity Center.
 
The loss for the Lady Owls (10-15, 8-10 CCC) ended a 3-match win streak – but the Set 1 win helped OIT secure a potential tiebreak over LCSC if the two teams finish tied in the final standings (Tech finished with more set wins between the teams, 4-3). In addition, coupled with losses by Multnomah and Evergreen State, the Owls clinched a spot in the 8-team Cascade Conference Championships.
 
OIT dominated Set 1, as Grace had four kills in an opening 6-1 run, with the lead growing to 20-10 in an easy win.
 
The Warriors (8-15, 7-11) answered late in Set 2, as Gianna Anderson had two kills to break a 19-19 tie, with LC scoring the final two points to earn the win. Set 3 was similar, as OIT was within 19-18, but Julianna Forgach-Aguilar answered with three kills to pull out the victory for the hosts.
 
Tech looked to force a fifth set, as Kate Hicks hammered two kills to give the Owls a 20-18 edge in Set 4. However, an OIT hitting error gave LC a side out and Forgach-Aguilar ripped consecutive kills to start a 7-point push to end the match.
 
Hicks had a career-high 11 kills and six blocks, Brooke Cassidy had 22 assists and 13 digs, with Kaley Whalen recording 19 digs.
 
Forgach-Aguilar led all players with 23 kills, as LC finished with a 51-43 edge in kills.
 
OIT returns home next weekend, hosting Evergreen State and Northwest.