SPOKANE, Wash. – Eastern Washington volleyball wrapped up their non-conference schedule with a 3-1 win over Gonzaga on Saturday inside the Charlotte Y. Martin Centre. Similar to their last three matches, Gonzaga battled for a win in the third set, nearly pushing a fourth before falling 19-25, 20-25, 25-18, 21-25.
 
After dropping to San Diego State in a five-set thriller earlier on Saturday, Eastern Washington (4-6) came out swinging against Gonzaga (1-9). A .478 hit percentage in the opening set, led by a trio of kills from Tanai Jenkins and Bri Gunderson quickly put the Eagles up 1-0. Autumn Larson was the leader in the first with six on just eight attempts with only one error.
 
Set two would also fall in favor of EWU, who built a slight lead early on that would prove enough as an even battle continued through the end. Gonzaga would get as close as two, but Eastern Washington would hang on to complete the 25-20 win. Quincy Moran picked up five kills in the second, followed right behind by Kalista Lukovich. Maggie Rickert led GU with five kills while adding six digs.
 
Larson heated back up in the third right when Gonzaga needed it most. Seven kills for the junior on a .438 clip propelled the Zags to a 25-18 win and pushed the match to a fourth set. After breaking an early 2-2 tie, GU never trailed in the third and slowly continued to extend their lead before the seven-point win.
 
The Bulldogs looked to extend the match even further to a tiebreaking fifth set, just like they did on Friday against San Diego State. They would take and hold on to an early lead until Eastern Washington knotted the score at 17 and regained control of the set. After breaking the 17-17 tie, the Eagles rolled to a 25-21 win to cut the Gonzaga rally short. Quincy Moran, one of the two All-Tournament Team selections for EWU, posted six kills in the final set.
 
Larson finished with 17 kills for Gonzaga to lead the offense, setting a new career-high while hitting .311 to earn an All-Tournament team nod. Rickert also finished in double figures with 13 kills, adding a career-high 22 digs for her third double-double of the season and fifth of her career.
 
UP NEXT
Gonzaga will open West Coast Conference play on Thursday, Sept. 26 at home against San Diego. The Zags will then be off for a week before welcoming Pepperdine and Portland to the Martin Centre Oct. 3 and 5.