LA GRANDE, Ore.  – The Bushnell volleyball team stormed out of the gates on Friday night but couldn't maintain as they fell to the NAIA's No. 3-ranked Eastern Oregon University in four sets, 22-25, 25-22, 25-17, 25-16.  
 
The Beacons (14-9, 12-7) led by as many as seven points in the first set before hanging on for the close victory in what they had hoped would set the table for an upset for the ages. The shocker was not to be, however, as the national title contenders rallied back to win the next three sets for the win.
 
Eastern (25-1, 18-1) collected 16 blocks in the match, out-dug the Beacons 57-49 and held a 51-36 margin in kills as they took one step closer to a conference crown.
 
Bushnell was led by an eight-kill performance from Leah Agost while the right-side duo of Matty Ladd and Halle Neumann combined for 13 kills. Bushnell had 11 blocks of their own in the match, led by six from Celia Hubbard and four apiece from Ladd and Makenna Mosher. Mosher also hit .444 with five kills on the night.
 
Katie Belitz led the team with 13 assists while Bella Parque secured 12 digs.
 
With both The College of Idaho and Northwest University falling to defeat on Friday night, Bushnell remains tied with NU for fifth in the CCC and one game behind C of I for fourth. One of those foes it directly in the path as Bushnell heads to Caldwell to take on The College of Idaho at 5:00 pm (MT) on Saturday.