SIOUX CITY, IOWA – In its first NAIA Pool Play appearance in program history, the Valley City State volleyball team fell to Eastern Oregon in straight sets Wednesday, 25-22, 25-16 and 25-20.
 
Seniors Mardi Scutchings and Bailey Nelson anchored the offense with 11 and 10 kills, respectively, but the Mountaineers hit .368 in the match to earn the win. Eastern Oregon is the top seed in VCSU's pool and was ranked No. 3 in the final edition of the NAIA Top 25 Coaches' Poll.
 
VCSU plays another NAIA pool play match on Thursday against Montana Tech at 1 p.m. Montana Tech was ranked No. 11 in the final Top 25 Poll.
 
Eastern Oregon opened with an early 14-9 lead in the first set. With VCSU trailing 22-17, Emma Lucas smashed a kill that sparked a 6-2 run that was capped by a big block from Scutchings and Danielle Hagler.  The Mountaineers won the first set 25-22 on a final kill by Sade Williams. 
 
The Mountaineers carried the momentum into the second set, putting up a .438 attack percentage and making just two errors en route to the 25-16 win.
 
In the third set, VCSU turned a 10-4 deficit into a 12-12 tie with the help of a 5-point rally including three Scutchings kills. The Vikings kept it close, trailing the Mountaineers by just a pair at 19-17 on another kill from Lucas. Eastern Oregon then took an 8-3 surge to put away the set and match.
 
Scutchings led the Vikings with 11 kills while Nelson posted 10 Wednesday. Danielle Hagler chipped in six kills and had a hand in two blocks for VCSU.
 
JayCee Richter posted 12 digs and three service aces and Reagan Bogenreif added 10 digs. Sadie Hansen finished with 30 set assists for the Vikings.
 
Eastern Oregon's Mylie Mills posted a game-high 12 kills while hitting .500 in Wednesday's match. Sade Williams added 10 kills whilte hitting .474 and posted 12 digs. Alexis McMutrey recorded 22 set assists and Hannah Ledgerwood tallied 20 assists for the Mountaineers.
 
UP NEXT: VCSU faces Montana Tech in NAIA pool play on Thursday at 1 p.m. in Sioux City.