CHENEY, Wash. – The Eastern Washington University volleyball team battled undefeated Sacramento State to five sets on Saturday afternoon (Oct. 21). After taking sets one and three in extra points, the Eagles were unable to take the decisive fifth set and fell 3-2.
 
EWU had four players garner double-doubles in the loss. Megan LaFond earned her first career double-double with a career-high 17 kills and 22 digs. Emma Dunn totaled her second of the season with a career-high 24 assists and 10 digs. Regan Harr earned her 12th of the season with 36 assists and a career-high 22 digs. Ashley Seiler collected her ninth with 23 kills and a career-high 23 digs.
 
In the first set, Eastern broke away with a 4-0 run to lead 11-10 and force a Hornet timeout. Another 4-0 run later in the set advanced their lead to 17-12. Up 23-16 and looking to close out the first set with a victory, Sacramento State stormed back with seven straight points to tie the match 23-23. Tied 24-24, a kill from Taylor Larsen and a service ace from Harr gave Eastern the 26-24 win.
 
Trailing 7-3 in the second set, EWU fired off five straight points to lead 8-7. Both teams would exchange leads after that as Eastern used three straight points to tie the set 14-14. However, with the set tied 19-19, it was the Hornets who broke through with a 5-0 run and eventually claimed the second set 25-20.
 
Although they hit .300 in the third frame, Eastern played from behind almost the entire third set. However, the Eagles would not back down facing set point. Trailing 24-17, Chloe Weber, Jayde Robertsen, Seiler and Kahle Elliott strung together four consecutive kills to come within three, 24-21. The Hornets were then able to stop the run with a kill of their own, taking set three 25-21.
 
It was a back-and-forth affair in the fourth set as EWU looked to stay alive and force a set five. EWU found themselves up 22-19 to force a Sacramento State timeout. They looked to close it out with a 24-22 lead, but the Hornets fought off set point and led 25-24, forcing an Eastern Washington timeout. Both sides then exchanged chances to win set four. The Hornets led 27-26, but a block from Larsen kept the Eagles in it. Down 28-27, the Eagles capitalized on attack errors from the Hornets and sealed set four in thrilling fashion, 30-28.
 
Eastern led 6-3 early in the fifth set. However, Sacramento State used a 5-0 run to lead 8-6. The Hornets kept their momentum and the Eagles couldn't catch up, dropping the fifth set 15-11 as Sacramento State won 3-2.
 
WIN-LOSS RECORDS: Sacramento State remains undefeated in the Big Sky with a 19-7 overall record and a perfect 10-0 mark in league play. Eastern falls to 6-13 on the year and 3-7 in the Big Sky. Eastern is now 4-2 in five set matches this season.
 
KEY STATS: The Eagles were able to total more kills (80-68), assists (80-67) and digs (117-105) than the Hornets. However, Sacramento State only committed 14 errors to EWU's 28 and hit .256 while the Eagles hit .230. Both teams were equal with seven blocks a piece. The Hornets also had five service aces and only nine service errors, while Eastern could only total two and had several service errors.
 
TOP PERFORMERS: The Eagles had four players in double figures in kills in Ashley Seiler (23), Megan LaFond (17), Taylor Larsen (13) and Kahle Elliott (11). EWU also had four players reach double digits in digs as well in Catelyn Linke (30), Seiler (23), LaFond (22) and Regan Harr (22). Harr also paced Eastern with 36 assists, followed by Emma Dunn who had 24.
 
NOTEABLES: As a team the Eagles had 80 kills, its most since they totaled 80 at the College of Charleston on Sept. 2, 2014. In addition, they had over 200 attacks (226) for the first time since last season at Idaho when they had 201. The team also totaled 117 digs, its most since they had 103 last season at Portland State. The Eagles totaled season-highs in kills, total attacks, assists and digs.
 
EWU also had four players garner double-doubles. Megan LaFond garnered her first career double-double with a career-high 17 kills and 22 digs. Emma Dunn totaled her second of the season with a career-high 24 assists and 10 digs. Regan Harr earned her 12th of the season with 36 assists and a career-high 22 digs. Ashley Seiler collected her ninth with 23 kills and a career-high 23 digs.
 
In just her third match of the season at libero, Catelyn Linke totaled a career-high 30 digs. Taylor Larsen tied her season high of 13 kills. The junior hit .370 on the day with only three attack errors.
 
UP NEXT: Eastern Washington splits next week as they travel to Weber State on Oct. 26 before returning home for three straight home matches, beginning with Idaho on Oct. 28 at 6 p.m.