| LEWISTON, Idaho – Missy Mortensen was impressive at the net in a match where LC State Volleyball out-blocked one of the top blocking teams in the NAIA 16-7. Despite the tight defense, No. 5 Southern Oregon University knocked off the Warriors in four sets (25-22, 25-27, 25-20, 30-28). Mortensen’s 10 block assists tie the program record for a four-set match and ranks tied for fifth in any match. The total is the most by a Warrior since 2017, and the 16 as a team is tied for eighth-most in an LC match.
“I am really proud of the fight that we showed against a Southern Oregon team that is no doubt a top team in the country,” Head Coach Katie Palmer said. “Missy had a huge night with 10 block assists. She keeps finding ways to contribute which shows the growth she has had in a short amount of time at LC. Our right-side attackers knew they had to put away the ball today and they stepped up with Hallie (Seaman) having eight kills and Anna (Merrill) hitting .318.”
The loss moves the Warrior record to 9-4 overall and 6-2 in Cascade Conference play. SOU, one of three CCC teams in the NAIA’s top 10, improves to 12-1 overall and 6-1 in conference action.
“I love coaching this team and competing in the Cascade Conference,” Palmer added. “Competing against top teams in the country nearly every weekend fuels us. We want the challenge and we are looking forward to the next challenge of two great programs in Corban and Bushnell.”
HOW IT HAPPENED
LC State answered a 3-0 opening run by SOU with three points of its own to tie the set early. An ace by Ella Stosich and kill by Juliauna Forgach Aguilar made it 3-3. A block by Mortensen and Forgach Aguilar kept the score within one, 8-7, but the Raiders maintained a slim edge. Back-to-back swings by Forgach Aguilar and Anna Merrill pushed the score to an even 18-18 before a kill by Merrill and block by Karissa Lindner and Taylor Boyce put LC in front 22-20. SOU responded with a five-point run to end the frame.
Three kills by Forgach Aguilar got the Warrior offense off to a strong start in the second set to keep things tied 5-5. A pair of swings by Boyce and one by Seaman made it 9-9, and a kill by Merrill sparked a five-point run for the Warriors. The stretch included a block by Mortensen and Merrill, ace by Makenzie Stout and kill by Mortensen to put LC State ahead 14-10.
The Raiders rallied to even the score 19-19 as a back-and-forth ensued. Kills by Forgach Aguilar, Boyce and Merrill, paired with a block by Mortensen and Forgach Aguilar, kept the set going before a swing by Forgach Aguilar ended it at 27-25 to tie the match.
LC State carried the momentum into the third frame as kills by Forgach Aguilar and Merrill, an ace by Stout and block by Lindner and Boyce put the Warriors in front 7-4. A pair of kills by Lindner kept the score close with LC in front 9-8 and Forgach Aguilar and Boyce combined for three straight kills to make it 14-13.
Southern Oregon gained momentum late in the set with a 4-1 run to take a 20-17 advantage. Stosich dealt an ace and Seaman added a kill by SOU took the set 25-20.
The Raiders continued to lead the contest offensively in the fourth frame with a quick 9-4 lead. A kill by Forgach Aguilar started a five-point run with contributions from Mortensen and Boyce to tie the set 15-15, and a three-point stretch with kills by Boyce, Lindner and Forgach Aguilar put the Warriors in front 20-19.
The two teams battled through another back-and-forth as the set went into extra points. The Warriors put up three straight blocks with help from Mortensen, Forgach Aguilar and Merrill to pull ahead 24-23 and Forgach Aguilar evened things up 25-25 with a clutch kill.
Back-to-back blocks by Mortensen, Boyce and Lindner made it 27-26 in favor of LC State and a kill by Boyce made it 28-28, but a pair of SOU points ended the long set 30-28.
STAT RECAP
Mortensen’s 10 block assists resulted in the most impressive blocking performance by a Warrior since 2017, and the 16 total blocks by the team is the most since 2011. Boyce, Lindner, Forgach Aguilar and Merrill each totaled five blocks.
Abbey Neff notched a double-double with 22 assists and 12 digs, and Esther Kailiponi led the Warriors with 25 assists. Natany Felix Guimaraes anchored with back row with 20 digs and Stout added 14.
Forgach Aguilar tied for the match-high with 19 kills and did so at a clip of .255. Boyce tallied 14 at .227. Merrill was the most efficient hitter in the match with a .318 attack percentage on seven kills. Seaman added eight kills for her season-high.
The Warriors hit .216 as a team to best SOU’s mark of .211.
Southern Oregon’s Marin Mackey tied for the match-high with 19 kills on a .222 attack percentage and Megan Perry totaled 16 at .225. Annie Hite dealt 34 assists and Mackey led the match with 25 digs.
UP NEXT
LC State hits the road for a pair of CCC matches at No. 7 Corban (Ore.) and Bushnell (Ore.) next week before returning to host College of Idaho and No. 2 Eastern Oregon Oct. 4-5.
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