BUTTE, Mont.- No. 3 nationally ranked Eastern Oregon was back in action Friday as they took on the No. 10 ranked Southwestern Assemblies of God University (Tex.) in game one and Montana State University-Northern in game two. The Mountaineers ultimately took both games in the form of 3-0 sweeps, staying undefeated after the first weekend of competition.
GAME 1: In a highly competitive matchup featuring two nationally ranked top 10 teams, Eastern Oregon showcased a dominant performance, taking the match in a clean sweep of 3 sets to 0 over the Lions of Southwestern Assemblies of God University.
After an initial surge by Eastern Oregon, which saw them leading 12-6 in the first set, SAGU staged a commendable comeback, closing the gap to 24-23. Despite this pressure, Eastern Oregon managed to clinch the set 25-23 after a timely timeout and a decisive kill from Emma Burlingame.
While the first set was closely contested, the Mounties rolled through the next two games, finishing with scores of 25-15 and 25-16. Despite SAGU’s best efforts, EOU ultimately sealed the match following back-to-back service aces from Hannah Ledgerwood.
Set-by-Set
Set 1: EOU 25, SAGU 23
Set 2: EOU 25, SAGU 15
Set 3: EOU 25, SAGU 16
Standout Performances
EOU
- Sade Williams: 8 kills, 1 ace, 8 digs
- Emma Burlingame: 7 kills, .462 H%
- Kiauna Mack: 5 kills, 1 block
- Alexis McMurtrey: 17 assists,10 digs.
SAGU
- Bailee Alexander: 8 kills
- Emma Tompkins: 7 kills, 2 digs
- Karena Tipton: 5 kills, 2 digs
GAME 2: Eastern Oregon demonstrated their dominance in their final game of the Big Sky Challenge, defeating Montana State-Northern to the scores of 25-14, 25-20, and 25-15. With this win, Eastern Oregon now boasts a 4-0 record, while Montana State-Northern drops to 1-1 on the season.
The playmaking abilities of Hannah Ledgerwood and Alexis McMurtrey were on full display in Friday afternoon’s matchup. Both setters consistently delivered assists and allowed the Mounties offense to capitalize and produce pivotal points. The duo combined for a total of 41 assists, paving the way toward a big performance from Senior Ashton Haughton.
EOU showcased an exceptional attacking game, registering a hitting efficiency of .294 across the three sets. Their consistency was evident, particularly in the first and third sets, where they recorded hitting percentages of .375 and .350, respectively.
Set-by-Set
Set 1: EOU 25, MSUN 14
Set 2: EOU 25, MSUN 20
Set 3: EOU 25, MSUN 15
Standout Performances
EOU
- Ashton Haughton: 11 kills, .611 H%, 2 solo blocks
- Alexis McMurtrey: 21 assists, 16 digs
- Hannah Ledgerwood: 20 assists, 5 digs
- Kiauna Mack: 8 kills, .667 H%, 2 solo blocks, 2 block assists
MSUN
- Alana Graves: 7 kills, 1 solo block, 1 block assist
- Alyssa Pretty Weasel: 7 kills, 1 block assist
- Emily Feller: 2 kills, 15 digs, 14 assists
