KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – Marlee Smith and Kelsey Sampson combined for 30 kills, as Oregon Tech was able to even their season and Cascade Conference record with a four set win over Warner Pacific 3-1 (25-14, 25-18, 21-25, 25-18) tonight at Danny Miles Court.

The Owls (9-9, 2-2 CCC) will next host Concordia University Saturday night at 7:00 pm at Danny Miles Court. Warner Pacific (3-11, 1-4 CCC) will play at SOU also on Saturday at 7:00 pm in Ashland, Ore.

Oregon Tech was led offensively by Smith and Sampson who each had 15 kills with Renee Baumann adding six kills. Kayleigh Whelchel tallied 28 assists, with Megan Holland adding 11. Smith anchored Tech's defense with a match-high 19 digs with Marie Baumann adding 14 digs and Sampson 12.  Tech got a match-high tying five blocks each by Kylie Kitzmiller and R. Baumann.

Warner Pacific was led by Mikaela Lisoski with 11 kills and Julia Toscano who added 10 kills. Marchelle Bostic had a match-high 35 assists. Defensively the Knights were led by Brandy Velasquez who had 19 digs with Kelsey Merritt adding 12 in the loss.

The opening set would see Oregon Tech jump out to a 14-5 lead before a Warner Pacific Timeout. Oregon Tech improved its lead to 18-8 behind the serving of Marlee Smith.  Oregon Tech closed the set on a 7-5 run to earn the 25-14 victory.

Set 2 would see Warner Pacific take an early 6-0 lead. After an Oregon Tech timeout the Owls went on a 9-3 run to tie the match at 9-9. Tech would then gain its first lead at 10-9 and never look back winning 25-18.

In the third set OIT took a 5-2 lead early but the two teams would stay close. Tech led 15-11 and 17-13 before WP went on a 5-0 run to take the lead at 18-17. Tech would tie the game at 18-18 and 19-19 but Warner Pacific grabbed the momentum on the way to a 25-21 set win.

In what proved to be the final set, Oregon Tech ran their way to a 11-5 advantage before WP went on a 4-0 run to make it 11-9. Tech would go up 15-12 then finish off the Knights with a 10-5 run to win the set 25-18 and the match 3-1.


Story Courtesy of Oregon Tech Sports Information