Mounties' Mylie Mills slams the ball during the home match against Warner Pacific University on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023. Eastern Oregon University swept the Knights 3-0.

CALDWELL, Idaho — The No. 1 Eastern Oregon University volleyball team notched its 13th win of the season in commanding fashion against its rival the College of Idaho on Tuesday, Sept. 20.

The match was neck-and-neck throughout, but the Mountaineers managed to gain a slight edge and take each set.

Eastern Oregon took an early 8-4 lead in the first frame, but the College of Idaho remained within striking distance throughout. A 5-0 run midway through put the Mountaineers in control, 17-9. The Yotes rallied several point sprees late in the set, but Eastern Oregon held on to win the last two points and win 25-18.

The College of Idaho came out swinging in the second set, building up an early 4-1 lead. A 6-0 run by the Mountaineers put the away team back up 8-5. Midway through, the Yotes rallied six consecutive points to retake a 12-9 lead. The remainder of the frame went back-and-forth, as the College of Idaho cut Eastern Oregon’s lead to 23-22. A kill by Sade Williams and a College of Idaho attack error led Eastern Oregon to win the second set 25-22.

The Mountaineers fell behind 5-1 to start out the third set. The Yotes led for the majority of the third frame, up until a big 5-0 rally late in the period that put Eastern Oregon back up 20-18. The College of Idaho tied the set at 22-22, at which point kills by Keira Vaughn and Ashton Haughton secured the final three points and a 25-22 victory to take the match.

Williams and Haughton led the way with 12 kills each, while Vaughn finished with 11. Mylie Mills led the Mountaineers with three blocks and Alexis McMurtrey tallied a team-high 16 assists.

Up next, Temple is set to return home for a weekend double-header against Walla Walla University and Lewis-Clark State College. The first match against Walla Walla is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Sept. 22.