SEATTLE, Wash. – Eastern Washington defeated Seattle University, 3-1, to complete a perfect 3-0 weekend at the Steve Nimocks Redhawk Invitational and secure its best start to a season since 2018.
Kalista Lukovich led the Eagles offensively with 18 kills while adding 10 digs and seven blocks for her first double-double of the season.
Aspyn Reed finished with 11 kills, while
Sidney Gray matched Lukovich with seven blocks.
Elle Bruegman led Eastern with 16 digs, and
Jailyn Davenport dished out a career-high 35 assists.
Lukovich was named the Steve Nimocks Redhawk Invitational MVP and earned a spot on the All-Tournament Team following a dominant weekend. Across three matches, she totaled 52 kills, averaging 5.20 kills per set while hitting .357. She also contributed 23 digs and nine total blocks.
"Very pleased with our performance overall this weekend," said head coach
Jon Haruguchi. "Winning is hard, and it's even tougher on the road. I thought we showed some real grit today, and I loved the resilience our team displayed. We'll take tomorrow off, then get back to work. We have a lot of great things to build on from this weekend, while also identifying areas where we can continue to improve."
Eastern took the opening set, 25-21, after creating separation midway through the frame. Reed paced the offense, while
Jade Livingston added an ace and the Eagles found success at the net. Seattle U cut the lead to 21-18 late, but Eastern responded with kills from Reed and
Judith Bolomboy before Lukovich and Gray combined for the set-clinching block.
The Eagles carried the momentum into the second set, using a 5-0 run highlighted by back-to-back Livingston aces and a Lukovich kill to build a 7-4 advantage. Eastern continued to pull away, extending its lead to 19-12 behind Livingston's third ace of the set.
Bria Carlisle added a late kill as the Eagles closed out the frame, 25-17, to take a 2-0 match lead.
Eastern jumped out to a 5-2 advantage in the third, but Seattle U battled back to tie the set at 12. The Redhawks then took control with a 9-0 run to build a 21-13 lead. The Eagles attempted to rally behind kills from Lukovich and Bolomboy, but Seattle U closed out the set, 25-17, to force a fourth.
The Eagles responded quickly in the fourth, using a 6-0 run to build an 11-5 lead behind kills from Reed and Carlisle and an ace from Bruegman. Eastern pulled away late behind Lukovich, who recorded four kills during the closing stretch, before Gray put away match point to secure the 25-12 set win and 3-1 victory.
Eastern returns to Spokane next weekend for the Gonzaga Invitational, where the Eagles will face Oral Roberts, Cal State Fullerton and host Gonzaga beginning Thursday, Sept. 3.
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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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