OLYMPIA, Wash. – Taking advantage of 28 Evergreen attack errors, the Warner Pacific Knights earned a straight-set win, 25-18, 25-14, 25-18, over the Geoducks in a Cascade Conference volleyball match on Saturday evening at CRC Gymnasium in Olympia, Wash.

After the two teams stayed close early, the Knights used a six-point run to pull ahead and another five-point swing towards the end gave WPC the 25-18 set one win.  The Knights had 12 kills and just five errors in the frame while the Geoducks struggled on the other side of the net, posting 10 kills with 11 errors on 46 total attacks.

The second set was all Warner Pacific from the beginning as the Knights put up the first six points of the game.  WPC continued to sprint away from the Geoducks, picking up a 25-14 win as Evergreen again struggled offensively, making nine errors compared with just four for the Knights.

Evergreen kept the third set close nearly the entire way but a five-point WPC run put the Knights up 20-13 and it was too much to overcome as Warner Pacific earned the 25-18 set three win.

The Geoducks were led by eight kills each from Cassidy Watkins (Tucson, Ariz./Trevecca Nazarene Univ.) and Brittany Covert (Chino Hills, Calif./Northern Michigan Univ.).  Kameo Dela Cuadra (Salinas, Calif./Hartnell College) had 16 assists while Merideth Gurr (Tacoma, Wash./Tacoma CC) led all players with 15 digs.

Warner Pacific was led by nine kills from Devan Belshe.  Machelle Bostic put up 24 assists on the night while Samantha Bryan added 11 more digs to her season totals.  The Knights had a combined 37 kills on the night with 16 errors on 106 total attacks for a hitting percentage of .198.

Evergreen hits the road next week for the final time in 2012, traveling to Southern Oregon on Friday to take on the Raiders.  Warner Pacific returns to Portland, playing host to Eastern Oregon.  Both matches are set for 7 p.m.

Box Score

OLYMPIA, Wash. – Putting down a total of 10 blocks, the Concordia Cavaliers swept past the Evergreen Geoducks, 25-12, 27-25, 25-9, in a Cascade Conference volleyball match on Friday evening at CRC Gymnasium in Olympia, Wash.

In the first set, Concordia used a number of runs to pick up the early advantage.  A six-point run put them ahead 15-5 and then a 5-1 stretch was enough to clinch the frame at 25-12 as the Cavs committed just two attack errors in the first set en route to a .346 hitting percentage.

The Geoducks came to play in the second set, staying right with the Cavaliers the whole frame.  CU attempted to pull away with a five-point swing that put them up 23-20 but Evergreen quickly tied it up as the two teams had to go extra.  Concordia finally wrapped up the set on a kill by Jackie Stein as they slipped by with a 27-25 win.

Concordia came out ready to close out the match in the third set and they were successful, sprinting past the Geoducks, 25-9, to clinch the match.  The Cavs had just six kills in the final frame but Evergreen struggled on the attack, posting 13 attack errors to allow CU to earn the sweep.

Evergreen was led by a solid match from junior Cassidy Watkins (Tucson, Ariz./Trevecca Nazarene Univ.), who finished with 13 kills and 12 digs on the night.  Sasha Nash (Sandy, Utah/Skyline HS) put up 26 assists on the night while Meredith Gurr (Tacoma, Wash./Tacoma CC) dug out 14 balls to lead the team.

Concordia was led by eight kills from Melanie Miller.  Lindsay Mangan added 29 assists for the Cavs while libero Kelsey Kai recorded 13 digs.  The Cavs had 31 kills with just nine errors on 97 attacks for a .227 hitting percentage.

The Geoducks remain at home on Saturday evening when they play host to Warner Pacific.  Concordia continues the road trip, traveling to Northwest to take on the Eagles.  Both matches are set for 7 p.m.

Box Score

LA GRANDE, Ore. – Playing as part of homecoming festivities, the Eastern Oregon Mountaineers didn’t fulfill their duty as good hosts, sweeping past the Evergreen Geoducks, 25-10, 25-16, 25-20, in a Cascade Conference volleyball match on Saturday afternoon in La Grande, Ore.

After a very early Evergreen lead in the first set, the Mountaineers sprinted the rest of the way, building a 22-8 lead before wrapping up a 25-10 set one win.  EOU committed just one attack error in the first frame, throwing down 12 kills on 19 attempts for an incredible .579 hitting percentage.   On the other side of the net, the Geoducks had six kills with five errors on 25 attacks for a .040 clip.

The Geoducks again took an early lead in the second set but the Mounties came out riding strong once again, pushing the lead to 10-4.  Evergreen battled back, pulling within one point at 13-12 but a 10-3 run eventually gave Easter the 25-16 set two win.

The third set was a battle from the very beginning as neither team enjoyed a lead larger than two points until a 4-0 EOU run put them ahead at 16-12.  Evergreen used a 7-1 run of their own to take a 20-18 lead but the Mountaineers ran off seven straight points to take the set, 25-20, and secure the sweep.

Evergreen was led by eight kills from Stephanie Peshlakai-John (Kirtland, N.M./West Texas College).  Senior setter Sasha Nash (Sandy, Utah/Skyline HS) led the Geoducks with 19 assists and 11 digs on the afternoon.

Eastern Oregon was led by eight kills from Rebecca Haight and seven each from Alisha Crane, Casey Loper and Stefani Sorensen.  Karly Stack and Jessica Perron each collected 14 assists for the Mounties, who finished the match with 41 kills and 10 errors on 97 attacks, good enough for a hitting percentage of .320.

The Geoducks finally return home from their three-week road trip next Friday when they play host to Concordia.  First serve with the Cavaliers is set for 7 p.m. at CRC Gymnasium in Olympia, Wash.

Box Score

CALDWELL, Idaho – A balanced attack and a stifling defense led the 14th-ranked College of Idaho Coyotes past the Evergreen Geoducks, 25-14, 25-16, 25-19, in a Cascade Conference volleyball match on Friday night at J.A. Albertson Center in Caldwell, Idaho.

In the first set, the Yotes used a 7-1 run to build the early lead.  The Geoducks did their best to keep pace with their ranked opponent but C of I put up five straight points to wrap up a 25-14 set one win.

College of Idaho continued their run into the second set as the Yotes collected the first four points to take the lead.  The Yotes remained powerful on offense, using 14 kills to collect the 25-16 win.

The third set remained close nearly the entire frame.  Up by just two points at 20-18, College of Idaho secured the sweep with a 5-1 run as the 25-19 win finished up the sweep, C of I’s ninth straight-set victory of the year.

Evergreen was led by 10 kills from junior Cassidy Watkins (Tucson, Ariz./Trevecca Nazarene Univ.).  Sasha Nash (Sandy, Utah/Skyline HS) added 17 assists to her season totals while Merideth Gurr (Tacoma, Wash./Tacoma CC) and Watkins led the team with nine digs each.

College of Idaho was led the 10 kills from Liz Myers.  Sierra Porter picked up 36 assists for the Yotes while Janel Porter led all players with 15 digs on the night.  As a team, the Yotes had 44 kills with 14 errors on 96 total attacks for a .312 clip.

The Geoducks are back in action on Saturday afternoon when they travel to La Grande, Ore. to take on Eastern Oregon, beginning at 4 p.m.

Box Score