KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – Despite big nights from outside hitters Molly Grace and Savanna Sterck, Oregon Tech could not hold off a College of Idaho rally, as the Yotes completed a reverse sweep, topping the Lady Owls 22-25, 18-25, 25-23, 25-18, 15-11 at Danny Miles Court.
 
C of I (5-5, 1-1 CCC) recorded five total blocks in the decisive fifth set, including three consecutive tandem-blocks to pull away for the win.
 
Grace had a huge match for Tech (7-4, 0-3), posting 19 kills, 13 digs and six blocks, with Sterck adding a season-high 18 kills – but 13 combined hitting errors by the hosts in the final two sets doomed the hosts.
 
Both teams struggled offensively in the opening set, combining for 18 hitting errors, as the two teams played to nine ties. The Owls held a 23-22 lead before closing out the set with consecutive kills from Aleksen Thayer and Grace.
 
Sterck powered the Owls in Set 2, recording three kills in a 12-4 run to open the frame. C of I cut the margin to 19-14, but a Sterck kills gave OIT a side out, with kills from Willow Jacobson and Grace closing out the win.
 
The tide changed in Set 3, as Jacobson gave the Lady Owls a 23-22 lead, only to have OIT called for a lift, followed by a C of I ace and combo-block to extend the match. The visitors dominated Set 4, rolling to a 12-4 lead, extending the margin to 22-11 on a Liza Montalbo ace – forcing a Set 5.
 
Tied 2-2 in the winner-take-all frame, Shelbey Nichol teamed with Abby Draghici and Alexa Wheeler for blocks, with Haley McUne following with a stuff block to give C of I the 3-point lead. Kills from McUne and Nichol and a Nichol-Wheeler block capped the 6-0 run.  Sterck recorded 3-straight kills, as OIT cut the lead to 13-11, but Jessica Stires earned a side out with a cross-court winner and a Wheeler-Nichol block ended the match.
 
Thayer had seven kills and five blocks in the loss, with Tiana Barrett recording six blocks. Paige Tevelde had 33 assists and nine digs, with Kaley Whalen adding 18 digs.
 
McUne paced C of I with 15 kills and 10 digs, with Nichol logging 10 kills and seven blocks and Wheeler recording eight kills and 10 blocks.
 
OIT closes out their 5-match homestand next weekend, hosting Bushnell and Corban.