Volleyball | 8/24/2018 9:42:00 AM
Box Score PORTLAND, Ore.—Despite nearly identical hitting percentages between the two teams, Tiffin University used a pair of two-point wins to edge Western Oregon, 3-1 (29-27, 25-18, 18-25, 25-23) in the final match of the Concordia Tournament on Friday.
Tiffin only outhit the Wolves .222 to .211 in the match, but after surviving a marathon opening set, 29-27, and trading the middle sets by 25-18 scores, the Dragons closed out the match with another two-point (25-23) spread.
The Wolves will continue play from the road next weekend with a four-match stint at the DII West Region Showcase hosted by Holy Names University on Aug. 31-Sept. 1.
WOU will face the host Hawks of HNU as well as Humboldt State, Stanislaus State and Hawaii Pacific.
Despite seven early kills from senior
Mariella Vandenkooy, the Wolves dropped a heartbreaker in the opening set, 29-27. The Wolves held a 23-21 advantage before the Dragons scored three straight to put set point in their favor. WOU survived three TU set points and created one their own with a 26-25 edge before Kyley Keene ended the elongated opener with an ace.
Vandenkooy went on to led WOU with 15 kills while teammate
Descinda Slaughter ended the match with 14 terminations.
Leila Holt tallied 21 assists for WOU while
Maddie Mehciz registered a match-high 25 digs. For her play over the three matches, Vandenkooy was named as one of seven players to the All-Tournament team.
Jenna Huffman and Amanda Curry paced TU with 13 kills each.
