LA GRANDE, Ore. – Eastern Oregon made quick work of Oregon Tech in the Cascade Conference opener for both teams, as the No. 1-ranked Mountaineers claimed a 25-8, 25-7, 25-18 victory inside Quinn Coliseum.
 
EOU (8-0, 1-0 CCC) combined for 28 kills and only two hitting errors in the opening two sets, finishing with a 40-17 edge in kills and an 8-2 lead in blocks in the home victory.
 
"Tonight showed a lack of confidence in our ability and our youthfulness," said OIT head coach Alexis Garrison. "Tomorrow is a new day."
 
Tech (2-6, 0-1) had their lone lead of the match following the opening point – but Kara Clayton had two kills in an 8-0 run by the hosts, with EOU scoring 14 of the final 16 points of the set.
 
OIT was within 7-5 in Set 2 after an Aleksen Thayer kill, but Eastern tightened up their defense, recording three blocks in a four-serve span – closing the frame on an 18-2 run.
 
The Owls rallied from an 6-0 deficit in Set 3, cutting the gap to 13-11 on a Savanna Sterck kill, but Sade Williams powered down three kills in a closing surge to seal the win for EOU.
 
Williams led Eastern with eight kills, with Madison Morgan adding seven.
 
Willow Jacobson led Tech with five kills, Sterck added four, with Kaley Whalen ending with 10 digs.
 
OIT returns to the court on Saturday night at College of Idaho.