EUGENE, Ore. – The NCU volleyball team was swept on Friday evening by the No. 11 ranked team in the nation as Eastern Oregon University won 25-23, 25-19, 25-22. NCU fought hard from the first serve to the last, but it wasn't enough to overcome the powerful play of the CCC leaders.
 
Eastern Oregon (25-3, 15-2) hit .250 in the match with 46 kills. They collected five blocks and out-dug NCU, 58-42. The Mounties remain tied for first-place in the Cascade Collegiate Conference and need a win over Corban on Saturday to clinch a share of the CCC championship and the top seed for the conference tournament.
 
Northwest Christian (9-12, 6-11) hit a respectable .197 and were tied late in all three sets. With the loss, NCU dropped to seventh in the CCC, one game behind Oregon Tech for the sixth-and-final post-season spot. The Beacons will now need a win over The College of Idaho on Saturday, as well as an OIT loss to Concordia.
 
NCU was led by Chandler Gabrio (pictured) who posted a match-high 15 kills and led NCU with two blocks. Chelsea McGowan added seven kills and Kayla Ping recorded six. Alyssa Dorr posted another double-double, collecting 32 assists and a team-high 11 digs.
 
EOU, playing without All-American Casey Loper, was led by Amanda Miller with 11 kills and three blocks. Emily Nay added nine kills with three blocks, hitting .538. Rachelle Chamberlain did a little of everything for the Mounties, collecting 33 assists and five kills, hitting .833. She also posted a block, an ace and seven digs.
 
The Beacons will attempt to earn their way into the playoffs at 5 p.m. on Saturday when they take on The College of Idaho. The Yotes have already clinched a top-four spot and will host a first-round playoff game next week.