BOZEMAN, Mont. – The Eastern Washington University volleyball team dropped a five-set heartbreaker to Montana State this evening (Oct. 13). After finding themselves in a 2-0 deficit, the Eagles stormed back to take the next two sets to push the match to five. EWU unfortunately fell in the fifth set by two points, dropping the match 3-2 (21-25, 19-25, 25-23, 25-21, 13-15).  
 
"It was a good fought match. I'm incredibly proud. Everyone did exactly what we ask them to do, with our outside hitters hitting over .200 and our middles hitting over .250, we only fell short in sideout percentage," said head coach Leslie Flores-Cloud. "I thought we had chances in sets one and two. We kept steadily growing and all the sets were very close. I think I'm most proud of their grit and their willingness to come back from behind and keep working really hard and doing the things that we know how to do. It really paid off tonight, we fought really hard and I'm very proud of the team."
 
The opening set was a back-and-forth affair from the start as both sides traded points. A 4-0 run helped Eastern lead 7-5. Later, Montana State countered with a 6-1 run to lead by two, 14-12. Following a timeout, Eastern had four-straight points to lead by two, 17-15. With the set tied 22-22, Montana State used three straight points to win 25-22 and take the first set.
 
Trailing by two, a kill from Catelyn Linke followed by a block from Kamille Langford and Kaitlin Sugai sparked a 3-0 run for the Eagles to take a 9-8 lead. After exchanging point-for-point, Montana State used a 5-0 run to open a five-point lead. It was all Montana State from there, as they took a 25-19 decision to lead 2-0.
 
Eastern Washington refused to fold in the third set, opening up a 9-7 lead. Both teams would exchange runs of three of more points to swap the lead. This continued, as Sugai and Linke garnered consecutive kills to lead 19-18. Trailing 22-21, a kill by MaKenna Davis sparked a 3-0 run to put Eastern up 24-22. The Bobcats capitalized on an EWU service error, but Davis was there with the kill to keep the Eagles alive, 25-23.
 
Neither side could extend its lead by more than two points as the fourth set reached the midway point. Montana State broke away following a 3-0 run to lead 17-14. Eastern quickly responded with a 3-0 run of its own to tie the set at 18-all and forced an MSU timeout. Eastern closed the set on a 7-1 run to win 25-21 and force a fifth set. The final four points included two kills from Langford in addition to a Linke service ace and kill.
 
In the fifth set, the squads were tied 4-4 following a kill from Langford. Montana State pulled ahead 6-4 and then 8-7 as the teams switched sides. Eastern Washington then fired off three-straight points that included a kill and an ace from Davis and a kill from Linke to lead 10-8. MSU crept back, but a kill from Langford tied the set 13-13. Montana State was able to capitalize on a kill and an EWU attack error to hang on and win 15-13, edging Eastern Washington 3-2.
 
WIN-LOSS RECORDS: With the loss, the Eagles are now 8-12 overall and 0-8 in Big Sky Conference play. The Bobcats improve to 8-11 overall and 3-5 in the conference.
 
Today marked the 75^th time that the two teams have faced each other in program history with Eastern owning the all-time record, 53-22. Montana State has now claimed the last two meetings. Eastern is now 1-2 on the season in five-set matches.
 
TOP PERFORMANCES: For the first time this season, the Eagles had four players reach double-digits in kills, with both Catelyn Linke and MaKenna Davis earning double-doubles.
 
Catelyn Linke had 17 kills and 17 digs to pace the Eagles in both categories while hitting .256 (17k-7e-39ta) on the night with two aces and a career-high four blocks. It was her sixth career double-double and fourth of the season.
 
MaKenna Davis collected a career-best 17 kills and added 14 digs while hitting .234 (17k-6e-47ta). It was her third career double-double and second this season.
 
Both Kamille Langford (13) and Kaitlin Sugai (12) also reached career-highs in kills while hitting .345 and .258, respectively. Langford also led the way for the Eagles with a career-high nine blocks. Sugai added a career-best six blocks.
 
Samantha Boever paced Eastern's offense with a career-high 57 assists. Puaoolelagi Sao added 16 digs.
 
As a team, the Eagles set a season-best 13 blocks.
 
KEY STATS: Eastern outblocked the Bobcats, 13 to seven. MSU had seven service aces while Eastern only had four, but the Bobcats also had 15 service errors. Additionally, Montana State struck at a .308 clip, but the Eagles hit .278 - their best of conference play so far. Eastern also sided out at 63-percent, just edged by Montana State who sided out at 65.7-percent.
 
UP NEXT: The second half of Big Sky Conference play begins on Tuesday at Idaho with first serve set for 7 p.m. The Eagles return to Reese Court on Oct. 20 to host Northern Colorado. First serve is set for 6 p.m. and admission is complimentary to the public.