SPOKANE, Wash. — Eastern Washington had a strong showing against Gonzaga, securing a 3-1 (25-20, 25-19, 18-25, 25-21) victory. However, they faced a tough battle against San Diego State, losing in five sets after putting up a valiant effort (25-23, 19-25, 20-25, 25-21, 12-15). With a season record of 4-6, the Eagles are set to kick off conference play on Thursday, Sept. 26, against Idaho State.
Bri Gunderson and
Quincy Moran earn all-tournament honors at the Gonzaga Invitational.
EWU vs. Gonzaga
The Eastern Eagles put on a strong performance against Gonzaga, winning the match 3-1. Moran was a standout, leading the offense with 15 kills at a solid .314 hitting percentage.
Kalista Lukovich also made her mark, recording 15 kills and 17 digs for her fourth double-double of the season.
In the first set, the Eagles established an early lead at 9-4, showcasing a balanced offensive effort and strong serving. After a 6-2 run pushed their lead to 19-12, Gonzaga called a timeout, but Eastern maintained control and took the set 25-19.
The momentum carried into the second set, where the Eagles jumped to a 9-5 lead. Eastern maintained a hitting percentage of .588, leading 15-10 at the media timeout. A brief 3-0 run from Gonzaga prompted Eastern to call a timeout, but the Eagles capitalized on Gonzaga's errors, ultimately winning the set 25-20 with contributions from Moran,
Tanai Jenkins, and
Sadie Bacon.
Set three saw Gonzaga come out strong, leading 10-7, which forced Eastern to take its first timeout. After falling behind 14-9, the Eagles fought back with a 3-0 run, prompting a Gonzaga timeout. However, the Bulldogs regained their momentum and secured the set 25-18.
The fourth set began with a successful challenge from Eastern, gaining the first point. Gonzaga went on a 4-0 run, but the Eagles quickly closed the gap. Eastern's first timeout came after trailing 12-7, but a strong offensive effort from
Alyssa Radke and Moran helped the Eagles regain the lead. They continued to dominate, taking the fourth set 25-21 and sealing the match victory.
EWU vs. San Diego State
In a thrilling five-set showdown, Lukovich and Radke led the Eagles with 15 kills each, displaying outstanding hitting percentages of .341 and .407, respectively. On the defensive side,
Kate Hatch and
Makenna Collins both recorded 12 digs, with Hatch achieving her fifth double-double of the season, adding 18 assists to her defensive efforts.
The first set showcased Radke's dominance as she racked up seven kills with an impressive .700 hitting percentage. Her explosive start set the tone for Eastern, who initially pulled ahead. Although SDSU made a strong push to regain the lead, the Eagles fought back and secured the set 25-23, thanks to critical blocks from Moran and Gunderson.
Momentum shifted in the second set as the Aztecs surged ahead, winning 25-19. Despite Eastern's attempts to regain control, SDSU's aggressive offense proved too strong. The third set continued the trend, with SDSU jumping out to an early lead and taking it 25-20, despite Eastern's spirited comeback.
In a dramatic fourth set, Eastern showed remarkable resilience, coming back from an early deficit to tie it at 17-17. A pivotal block from Gunderson and Lukovich helped Eastern take the lead, and they closed out the set 25-21, forcing a decisive fifth set.
The final set was tightly contested, with SDSU edging ahead early. Despite Eastern's valiant effort to close the gap, the Aztecs ultimately clinched the match 15-12, winning the contest 3-2.
Up Next
Eastern will hit the road to kickoff conference play against Idaho State on Thursday, Sept. 26 at 6 p.m. The Eagles will return home to take on Sacramento State on Saturday, Sept. 28 at 11 a.m.
ABOUT EASTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS
Eastern Washington University Athletics sponsors 14 intercollegiate sports, six for men and eight for women, both as learning opportunities for its most athletically talented students and as an enhancement to student and community life. Eastern is affiliated with Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and is a member of the Big Sky Conference, an association of 10 regional schools with comparable enrollments and academic goals.
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