Warriors see playoff hopes fade in loss to Oregon Tech

October 28, 2005

BOX SCORE

SALEM, Ore. – Knowing that a loss at this juncture would end their chances of making the conference playoffs for the first time in eight years, Corban’s women’s volleyball team still could not overcome Oregon Tech on Friday night and fell in three games – 27-30, 25-30, 30-32.

Despite the close scores, the Warriors struggled to maintain a positive hitting percentage thanks to 39 kills and 38 attack errors (.006 hitting percentage), while Oregon Tech recorded 45 kills and 24 attack errors (.140 hitting percentage).

In game one, Corban took the earlier lead, 24-18, but watched as the visiting Hustlin’ Owls used a 12-3 run to take the opening game by 3 points (30-27).

In game two with the scored tied at 13-all, Oregon Tech used a 17-12 run to take the early 2-game advantage (30-25).

In the final game, Corban found themselves down earlier, 11-5, but used a 6-1 run to tie the game at 11-all, and then continued the momentum when they took their largest lead of the game, 18-13.  Oregon Tech battled back to tie the game at 28-all, thanks to a 15-10 run and then traded points with the Warriors until the game was knotted at 30-all.  An OIT kill followed by an attack error by Corban and the visiting Hustlin’ Owls walked out of the C.E. Jeffers Sports Center with the final game, 32-30, and the 3-game sweep.

Senior Bailey Willcox (Jackson, Wyo.) led Corban with a team-high 8 kills, while junior Nina Clanton (Hillsboro, Ore.) and freshman Chelsea Reeher (Powell Butte, Ore.) added 7 and 6 kills respectively.  Senior setter Ashley Walbridge (Troutdale, Ore.) guided the Warriors’ offense with a match-high 33 assists, while junior libero Becky Horn (Troutdale, Ore.) anchored Corban’s back line with a match-high 20 digs.

Oregon Tech was led by Michelle Klaja’s match-high 11 kills, while Melissa Franks and two other Hustlin’ Owls added 8 and 7 kills respectively.  Megan Albertson guided Oregon Tech’s attack with a team-high 28 assists, while Nicole Morozzo and Klaja recorded 14 digs each. 

With the loss, Corban falls to 6-13 overall, 6-9 in Cascade Collegiate play.  Oregon Tech improves to 15-7 overall, 11-4 in Cascade Collegiate play.  The Warriors are next in action on Saturday, October 29th, when they host the NAIA’s No. 11-ranked Southern Oregon beginning at 7:00 p.m. inside the C.E. Jeffers Sports Center.

Corban will be honoring four seniors – Katie Lewin (Keizer, Ore.), Walbridge, Whitney DeWolf (Central Point, Ore.), and Willcox (pictured above right) – during the 10-minute break in between games two and three, as they will be appearing in their final home match in a Warrior uniform.