Roadrunners Win Thriller in Eugene

EUGENE, Oregon – The Linn-Benton Volleyball team defeated Lane Community College 3-2 on Friday, Oct. 7. 

THE MATCH

The Roadrunners improved to 21-1 on the season and 8-0 in the NWAC South Region. The Titans fell to 13-2 on the season, and 6-2 in the NWAC South Region.

The first set featured a back and forth battle until the Titans went on a 5 point run late in the set to make it a 22-14 game. The Titans took advantage of nine Roadrunner errors. 

In the second set it appeared the Roadrunners were bound to tie it up, taking a 19-17 lead. The Titans rallied, tying it back up at 23 a piece and eventually winning the set on a service ace. The Roadrunners continued to struggle with 8 team errors. 

Heading into the third set the Roadrunners appeared to be on their back foot, with all the momentum on the Titans side. Tied at 18 all, the Roadrunners dug deep and went on a 6-2 run to secure the third set and keep their hopes alive. The Roadrunners finished with a match high 15 kills in the third set. 

In the fourth set the momentum shifted to the visitors side. Unlike the first three sets, the fourth set featured a dominant performance from the Roadrunners. Now the TItans found themselves making multiple errors. 12 team errors from the Titans allowed the Roadrunners to take the fourth set 25-15, and tie the game at two sets apiece. 

In the fifth set both teams showed why they're NWAC Championship contenders. The Titans took a 5-2 lead early, with multiple kills from Elijah Sanders, and McKenna Frazier. Following a timeout from the Roadrunners, they rallied to score four straight and take a 6-5 lead. It went back and forth until 12-12. At this point both teams had played to almost perfection, but Roadrunners Taya Manibusan had seen enough. Two straight kills from Manibusan, and a service ace from Roadrunners Zaley Bennet, sealed the comeback for the Roadrunners. 

THE BOX SCORE

The Roadrunners finished with 52 team klls on 160 attempts(.131%). Roadrunners Shelby Nichol led the way with a match high 14 kills on 24 attempts(.542%) Roadrunners Graci Zanona finished with a match high 21 digs. Savannah Hutchins and Bennett finished with 22 and 21 assists respectively. 

Sanders finished with a match high 30 assists and 11 digs. TItans Chloe Farr had a team high 17 digs. 

NEXT UP

Next up the Roadrunners stay on the road, traveling to take on Clackamas Community College on Friday, Oct. 14. Game will be played at Randall Hall, 19600 Molalla Ave, Oregon City, OR. First serve is set for 6 p.m.