HONOLULU, Hawaii – From the HPU Shark Tank in Honolulu, Eastern Oregon University’s volleyball squad continued their unbeaten run as they faced off against both Jessup University and Bryan College in Friday’s slate of competition.
Game 1: Under the sun of the Magic Island Hawaii Classic, Jessup surged early to secure the initial lead. But with Sade Williams’ precision attacks and the aces of Hannah Ramage, EOU rallied to win the first set, 25-19. Jessup’s final push was stunted when the Mountaineers capitalized on a ball-handling misstep to claim the set.
Set two saw Jessup answering the bell, launching to a 3-0 advantage early. Their second set was marked by an impressive attack percentage of .306. Bolstered by the likes of Lauren Toon and Madalyn Miller, Jessup transformed into a defensive force. The Mountaineers repeatedly tried to pierce through Jessup’s defenses, but it was Jessup’s set to lose, closing at 25-12.
Trailing initially in the third set after Jessup’s 5-point barrage, the Mountaineers stormed back and showcased their resilience. This orchestrated response ensured EOU ended the set on top at 25-18. By the fourth set, the Mountaineers were in full stride, laying down the marker with a 3-0 lead. The quartet of Madison Morgan, Sade Williams, Kara Clayton, and Mylie Mills was just too much for Jessup. Despite the Warriors best efforts, especially from Kenzie Carpenter and Eliana Sheridan, they couldn’t fend off a series of errors. The final nail was hammered in by Adrienne Washington, wrapping the set at 25-14 for Eastern Oregon.
With eight tie scores and four lead changes over the four sets, the first match set the tone for what will surely be an exciting weekend of volleyball.
Set-by-Set
Set 1: EOU 25, Jessup 19
Set 2: Jessup 25, EOU 12
Set 3: EOU 25, Jessup 18
Set 4: EOU 25, Jessup 14
Standout Performances
EOU
- Sade Williams: 13 kills, .355 hitting percentage, 14.0 points
- Hannah Ramage: 3 service aces, 17 digs, 3.0 points
- Kara Clayton: 6 kills, 9.0 points
- Madison Morgan: 6 kills, 9.0 points
Jessup
- Madalyn Miller: 10 kills, 12.0 points
- Eliana Sheridan: 9 kills, 10.5 points
- Kenzie Carpenter: 19 assists, 1.0 points
- Lauren Toon: 3 service aces, 3.0 points
Game 2: Eastern Oregon showcased their dominance in a straight-set win against Bryan (Tenn.) in the second slated game of Friday Competition. The No. 3 team in the country clinched the match with scores of 25-17, 25-21, and 25-14, improving their record to a 6-0 for the season. Bryan drops 3-3 on the season following the loss.
EOU standout Sade Williams, led the team with 13 kills and 14 digs, contributing significantly to the team’s total of 46 kills from 114 attempts. The team’s synergy was also evident in their gameplay, as setters Hannah Ledgerwood and Alexis McMurtrey combined for 40 assists, enhancing their team’s offensive rhythm throughout the match. Additionally, the Mountaineers outperformed on the defense end with a total of 53 digs, compared to Bryan’s 47.
While the Lions showcased some resistance in the second set, leading to 12 tie scores and seven lead changes, their overall performance was shadowed by their lower hitting percentage and several key errors. Lillie Van Metre and Abby Rector managed to register eight kills each, but their efforts couldn’t turn the tide against a powerful Eastern Oregon side.
Set-by-Set
Set 1: EOU 25, Bryan 17
Set 2: EOU 25, Bryan 21
Set 3: EOU 25, Bryan 14
Standout Performances
EOU
- Sade Williams: 13 kills, 14 digs, 14.0 points
- Hannah Ledgerwood: 1 kill, 18 assists, 6 digs, 2.0 points
- Alexis McMurtrey: 1 kill, 22 assists, 5 digs, 3.0 points
- Ashton Haughton: 7 kills, 2 digs, 9.5 points
Bryan
- Lillie Van Metre: 8 kills, 2 digs, 3 reception errors, 8.0 points
- Abby Rector: 8 kills, 12 digs, 8.0 points
- Raegan Malugin: 6 kills, 3 digs, 7.5 points
The Mounties will return to action tomorrow when they face Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (Ariz.) on Saturday the 26th, at 6:30 p.m. PDT.