KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – Facing the No. 2-ranked team in the NAIA, Oregon Tech went toe-to-toe with Eastern Oregon, but the Mountaineers got a dominant performance from Kiauna Mack to earn a 26-24, 25-21, 25-23 victory at Danny Miles Court.
 
The Lady Owls (7-3, 0-2 CCC) were tied or had the lead late in all three sets, but the defending national semifinalists had an answer to every OIT surge.
 
Mack led all players with 16 kills and nine blocks – including the final two kills in Set 3 that broke a 23-23 tie.
 
EOU (9-0, 1-0) scored seven of the first eight points of the match, extending the lead to 17-9, as Mack posted four kills and four blocks in the opening run. Tech answered in a big way, forcing the Mounties into five hitting errors in a 12-3 run, as a Willow Jacobson kill gave OIT their first lead at 21-20. Tech had a 23-22 advantage, but consecutive kills from Ashton Bales and Keira Vaughn helped the visitors end the set on a 4-1 surge.
 
Set 2 followed the same script, as Eastern got three Vaughn kills to build a 20-15 lead, only to have Savanna Sterck smash three kills and a kill off an overpass by Lex Boccia evened the score at 21-21. EOU turned to Mack, who recorded two kills in a 4-point push, answering the Tech run and end the set.
 
OIT dominated the majority of Set 3, taking a 12-4 lead – forcing the Mounties to use both time outs. EOU didn't go away, as Bales ripped three kills in a 9-2 run that got the visitors even at 17-17. Tied at 23-23, Eastern turned to Mack, recording consecutive kills to end the match.
 
Sterck and Jacobson led the way for the Owls – Sterck leading the club with 12 kills and Jacobson adding nine kills and three blocks.  Setters Lucy Boyd and Paige Tevelde combined for 31 assists and 13 digs, with Kaley Whalen ending the night with 16 digs and Abigail Sorensen posting 15 digs. OIT ended the night with a 10-9 edge in total blocks.
 
Vaughn had 13 kills for EOU, with setter Alexis McMurtrey finishing with a double-double (25 assists, 11 digs).
 
The Owls close out weekend play tomorrow at 4 p.m., hosting College of Idaho.