KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – After nine matches on the road, Oregon Tech finally made their Basin debut and the friendly confines of Danny Miles Court were instrumental in a 3-set victory over Lewis-Clark State.
 
Molly Grace recorded a career-high 19 kills, with the Lady Owls (3-7, 1-2 CCC) finishing the night with a season-high .280 hitting percentage in the 26-24, 25-19, 25-19 victory over the Warriors.
 
"Tonight was a great win," said OIT head coach Alexis Garrison. "We showed resiliency, grit and the confidence we've been needing. I am so proud of them."
 
Tech rallied from 4-or-more point deficits in all three sets – with the Owls modified 6-1 attack building a rhythm as the match rolled on.
 
LC (3-6, 2-2) had control of Set 1, leading 15-11 after a tandem block from Missy Mortensen and Kierstyn York. Tech methodically whittled the lead, as consecutive Kate Hicks kills pulled the hosts even at 21-21. After ties at 23-23 and 24-24, a Willow Jacobson kill gave OIT their second set-point, with a Savanna Sterck blast giving the hosts the win.
 
Set 2 was similar, as a York kill have the visitors their largest lead at 17-12. The Lady Owls answered in a big way, as Grace recording four kills and Paige Tevelde adding a pair – as Tech ended the set on a 13-2 run to grab a 2-set lead.
 
The Warriors grabbed momentum early in Set 3, scoring five of the first six points. Following an OIT timeout – the tide turned – as Grace ripped three kills in a 13-3 surge by the Lady Owls, with the Tech lead never falling below four points the rest of the way.
 
Sterck finished the night with 13 kills and Jacobson added six kills to pace the OIT offense. Tevelde recorded three kills, 20 assists and two blocks, with Brooke Cassidy adding 17 assists. Libero Kaley Whalen led all players with 16 digs.
 
Karissa Lindner led LC with six kills and seven blocks and Anna Merrill added six kills and four blocks in the loss. Juliauna Forgach Aguilar, the CCC's leading hitter – averaging 4.1 kills per set – was limited to five kills and six errors on 33 swings by the OIT defense.
 
OIT plays the middle match of their 3-game homestand on Saturday night, hosting Walla Walla University at 9 p.m.