Oregon State
4-2
Illinois State
3-3
Volleyball Outlasts Illinois State In Five Sets
September 01, 2012 | Women's Volleyball
Sept. 1, 2012
NORMAL, Ill. - Camille Saxton had 19 kills in the Oregon State volleyball team's five-set win (23-25, 25-21, 25-22, 26-28, 15-6) over Illinois State Saturday night, with five coming in the fifth and deciding set.
Saxton's fifth kill of the set punctuated the Beavers' victory and propelled them to a 2-1 record in the two-day Redbird Classic. The senior hit .211 for the match as Oregon State posted a .148 percentage as a team. Illinois State, however, hit .101.
"This was a very good win for us," head coach Taras Liskevych said. "One thing that is important to note is that Illinois State played very good defense. They kept digging and digging and had 108 overall. We hung in there and were able to play different players in various formations and positions."
Liskevych praised the play of Saxton and Becky Defoe, among others, including freshman Katelyn Driscoll, who contributed three kills in three sets.
Oregon State went to a fifth set for the second time this season after falling 3-2 to No. 22 Kansas State last weekend in Manhattan. This time was a different story as the Beavers jumped out to a 7-2 advantage in the frame, forcing an Illinois State timeout. The Redbirds were attempting to stem the Beavers' momentum, but it didn't work and Oregon State improved to 4-2 on the year.
Illinois State, meanwhile, dropped to 3-3.
The Redbirds scored the first two points after the timeout to pull within three, 7-4, but Oregon State elongated its least to six, 10-4, and later, eight, when leading 13-5. Ashley Eneliko, who finished with 11 kills, put the Beavers up 14-6 with her final kill of the night and then watched as Saxton's 76th attack - one off tying her career high against Stanford in 2011 - of the match put the Redbirds away.
Arica Nassar gave the Beavers three players in double figures as she finished with 10 kills. The sophomore also tallied five blocks, giving her 14 on the weekend and 31 on the season.
The win for the Beavers was their first this season when losing the first set of a match. Ironically, it was also the first time OSU lost the third set in a match.
Saxton and junior Becky Defoe were named to the Redbird Classic All-Tournament Team. Saxton tallied 52 kills over the three matches while Defoe finished with 79 digs.
The Beavers led by as much as three, 14-11, midway through the first set but Illinois State was able to win the frame, 25-23. Saxton led OSU with three kills while Eneliko, Allie Rogers and Laura Schaudt all had three apiece. Tayla Woods assisted on 10 kills.
Oregon State evened the match at one set apiece in the second set when downing the Redbirds, 25-21, on the strength of five kills from Saxton and four from Eneliko.
OSU led by as much as seven in set three, eventually winning 25-22 after the Redbirds pulled to within one at 23-22. Arica Nassar led the Beavers with four kills in the frame.
The Beavers were looking for a 3-1 win with a set-four victory but the Redbirds managed to come-from-behind for a 28-26 win. Oregon State had match point at 25-24 and 26-25 but Illinois State was able to tie and later win the set.
Oregon State opened its day with a 3-0 victory over Presbyterian (1-7). Saxton had a team-leading 16 kills in the win.
The Beavers return to action next Saturday and Sunday when competing in the Chicago Classic. Oregon State is scheduled to take on UIC, Penn State and DePaul during the trip.
Check osubeavers.com for notes and information regarding the team's trip to Chicago.
Season Tickets On Sale
Season and single-match tickets for the Beavers' 2012 campaign are now on sale.
Season tickets are $56 for adults and seniors/children (aged 62 or older or ages 3-18) are $40. Adult single-match tickets are $7, while children are $5. Groups of 20 or more can purchase tickets for $2 per.
Fans can purchase tickets in person at the Gill Coliseum ticket office, over the phone by calling 1-800-GOBEAVS or online at beavertickets.com.
For more information on the Oregon State volleyball team, follow the club's official Twitter account at Twitter.com/BeavsVolleyball or by Facebook at Facebook.com/OregonStateVolleyball.
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