SALEM, Ore. – Oregon Tech gave No. 6-ranked Corban everything they could handle, but the Warriors held off the Lady Owls upset bid with a 5-set victory inside C.E. Jeffers Center.
OIT (8-7, 2-5 CCC) held an 11-10 lead in Set 5, before the hosts scored the final five points to claim the 18-25, 25-16, 25-16, 25-23, 15-11 win.
The loss spoiled a career-night from
Alexa Gugliotta, as the sophomore had 14 kills and four blocks and 37 digs from
Kaley Whalen.
Tech dominated Set 1, getting a block and kills from
Tiffini Goss in a 6-0 run to take a 10-4 lead, with Gugliotta starting a 5-0 surge with a kill to extend the lead to 17-10 as the Owls stunned the nationally-ranked foe.
Gugliotta continued the pressure in Set 2, posting two kills and two blocks in an opening 12-6 surge. From there, the Warriors (11-5, 4-3) made a major adjustment, outscoring the Owls 19-4 the rest of the frame – including 12-straight points on the serve of Emma Bischoff – to even the match.
Bischoff continued her attack, posting two key kills in a 6-1 run in Set 3 that gave the Warriors a 22-16 edge, giving her squad a match lead.
OIT wouldn't quit, breaking a 21-21 tie in Set 4 with a key block from Gugliotta and Taryn Ramsey, with kills from
Shalyn Bliss and
Ka'ala Masaoka completing the set win, extending the match.
The Owls took an 11-10 lead in the final set, as a Bliss kill and two Corban errors gave the visitors the edge. However, a serving error by Tech, followed by a Greta Van Gemert kill started the 5-point run by the Warriors to end the match.
Both Bliss and Masaoka came off the bench to post seven kills for the Owls, Ramsay had 37 assists, eight digs and four aces, with
Emma Kness recording 16 digs.
Bischoff finished with 18 kills and 20 digs to lead Corban in the victory.
OIT closes out the trip with an afternoon match on Saturday at Bushnell.
