KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – The Oregon Tech Hustlin’ Owls found a way to get points when they needed as the Evergreen Geoducks were swept in a Cascade Conference volleyball match on Saturday night in Klamath Falls, Ore.
In the first half, the teams came out evenly matched as neither squad could earned much of a lead early. With the score tied 10-10, Oregon Tech managed four straight to open the gap and the Geoducks couldn’t catch up, allowing another four-point run late that allowed the Hustlin’ Owls to earn the 25-18 set one win.
The second set looked to be a good one for the Geoducks as Evergreen took the lead early and seemed to be on their way to tying the match, leading 15-13. Then the wheels came off as the Owls put together 12 straight points to take the second set, 25-15.
Evergreen battled like crazy in the third frame to force a fourth set and it looked that way late as a three-point run put the Geoducks within a point of taking the set at 24-21 but the Owls put together a three-point run of their own. After a number of sideouts, Oregon Tech finally closed out the match, using three-straight points to earn the 31-29 set three win and clinch the match in straight sets.
Evergreen was led by eight kills each from Victoria Love (Seaside, Calif./Seaside HS/Hartnell College) and Molly King (Centralia, Wash./Centralia HS/Tacoma CC). Kelsey Delagrange (Longview, Wash./Kelso HS/Mt. Hood CC) had 20 assists while Liza Domingo (Ka’a’awa, Hawai’i/Kahuku HS/Lower Columbia College) led the Geoducks with 15 digs.
Oregon Tech was led by 12 kills from Marlee Smith and 11 kills from Kelsey Sampson. Victoria Porter and Kayleigh Whelchel had 15 assists each while Marie Baumann led the back row with 15 digs on the night.
The Geoducks return home next weekend to open up the second half of conference play against Eastern Oregon on Friday and College of Idaho on Saturday. Both matches are set for 7 p.m. at CRC Gymnasium in Olympia, Wash.