KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – Savanna Sterck recorded a career-high 20 kills, including a thunderous spike to force match-point, as Oregon Tech outlasted Northwest University in five sets at Danny Miles Court.
 
The Lady Owls (11-15, 9-10 CCC) ran their home win streak against the Eagles to five matches with a 25-18, 25-20, 20-25, 22-25, 15-11 victory.
 
After NU (15-9, 12-7) rallied to force a fifth set, OIT broke a 6-6 tie with a 3-point surge. Back-to-back hitting errors by the Eagles was followed by a Kate Hicks ace that rolled off the net tape to the floor. Kills from Kaitlyn Mickle pulled the visitors within 10-9, but Kennedy Kantola got a side out for Tech with a kill and Molly Grace followed with an ace. Leading 13-11, Sterck slammed home a winner down the line to set up match point, with an Eagles hitting error ending the match.
 
Tech rolled to wins in the opening two sets – as Brooke Cassidy had three aces and Hicks had three blocks in the frames. Grace had three kills as the Owls opened Set 1 on a 7-2, extending the margin to 17-8 on a Sterck kill. In Set 2, OIT led 18-17, but kills from Grace and Hick extended the margin and a Cassidy ace gave the Owls an insurmountable lead.
 
NU found their rhythm in Set 3, as a 15-4 run – keyed by four combo-blocks and four kills from Kylie Lunday, built a 19-9 lead. Set 4 was tighter, as the Owls were within 23-22 following a Hicks kill, but Mickle answered back-to-back kills to send the match to a fifth set.
 
Grace had 15 kills and a career-high 21 digs in the victory, with Hicks posting nine kills and six blocks and Kantola adding eight kills. Cassidy tied a career-high with four aces, adding 31 assists and 10 digs, with Kaley Whalen leading all players with 30 digs.
 
Mickle finished with 19 kills in the loss for NU, with Lunday adding 12 kills and three blocks. Allie Flynn had 30 assists and 14 digs, with Kelsey Moore recording 25 digs.
 
Tech closes out their home schedule tomorrow night, hosting Evergreen State at 7 p.m. The Lady Owls will honor Cassidy, their lone senior, in a post-match ceremony.