Northwest Defeats Eastern Oregon in Five Sets

The Eagles remain at home next weekend and will host Northwest Christian University and Corban Univ. on Oct 8 and 9.

KIRKLAND, Wash. - Down two sets to one, the NU Eagles rallied to defeat Eastern Oregon University, 3-2 (25-22, 23-25, 23-25, 25-17, 15-3) tonight in exciting Cascade Conference play in Kirkland. The Eagles are tied for fourth place in the CCC with Eastern Oregon with identical 5-4 conference records.

NU fell behind early in the first set as EOU led, 8-6 before the Eagles would out score the Mounties 8-3 to take a 14-9 lead on an Anu Akamine kill. NU would build their lead to 21-11 but EOU would battle back to within 23-20 on a 9-2 run of their own. Akamine would get the set winner with her kill with the score, 24-22.

The Eagles would lead 14-12 in the second set before Eastern Oregon would tie the set at 14-14. Five more ties and then EOU would take the lead, 23-22 on Jessica Lea's kill. Akamine's kill would make it 23-all but an attack error by NU and an Irene Walters kills would seal the win for Eastern.

Set three, EOU would lead most of the way, but the Eagles would make it close pulling to within two, 23-21 and 24-23, before Irene Walters' kill would end the set 25-23, EOU.

NU would battle back in the fourth set leading early, 13-9 and would build their lead to 21-14 as Heather Shulke's service ace and kill coupled with another set winning kill by Akamine would tie the match at 2-all and sending it to the fifth and deciding set.

Set five was all Eagles as they busted out to an 8-0 lead before EOU would get on the board. A Molly Boyle, Akamine kill and EOU attack error, would increase their margin to 13-1 as they would close out the match and win their tenth match of the season.

Anu Akamine (Hauula, Hawaii) had a match high 21 kills and 19 digs for Northwest U. (10-6, 5-4 CCC). Lauren Holtz (Sr., Brier, Wash.) added 10 kills and 26 digs and Lauryn Ernster (Soph., Bothell, Wash.) had a match high 48 assists while adding 15 digs. Heather Shulke (Soph., Castle Rock, Wash.) contributed a match high 43 digs on the night.

Eastern Oregon (9-6, 5-4 CCC) was led by Taylor Stewart with 14 kills and 13 digs. Setter Jessica Lea added 12 kills, 33 assists and 20 digs for the Mountaineers. Kaitlyn Duncan had a team high 33 digs.

"I felt we did a great job of coming back after losing two games in a row," said NU coach, Jessie Dietrich. "We haven't been able to do that all season so it was very nice to see. It was a great win."

The Eagles remain at home next weekend and will host Northwest Christian University and Corban Univ. on Oct 8 and 9.

NU Eagles Eastern Oregon University Mounties

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