PORTLAND, Ore. - The Illinois Tech women's volleyball team opened the season on Friday evening at the first day of the Oregon Trail Classic, taking on Willamette and Lewis & Clark. Tech was defeated in straight sets by both opponents.

Scores

• Willamette 3, Tech 0 (25-20, 25-10, 25-18)
• Lewis & Clark 3, Tech 0 (25-9, 25-20, 25-20)

How it Happened - Willamette Match

• An early 7-2 run put Willamette in control before a 5-0 run put the Scarlet Hawks back down by one at 10-9. While Tech would threaten several times in the set, Willamette was able to build a eight-point lead at 24-16. Freshman Karen Marrufo-Zubaran's two kills propelled a 4-0 run to help the Scarlet Hawks stay alive before dropping the set 25-20.
• Willamette dominated the second set, starting on a 6-0 run and never looking back. Tech was only able to score consecutive points once on two Mia Phelps' kills.
• The third set was highly competitive, as the Scarlet Hawks took a three-point lead mid set on a Courtney Darling kill. A 4-0 run by Willamette put the Hawks behind for the rest of the match.

Scarlet Hawk Standouts - Willamette Match

• Phelps led Tech in her first collegiate match with seven kills. Marrufo-Zubaran also had five in her first match.
• The setting duo of Darling and Courtney Freund each tallied 11 assists. Darling had a double-double, finishing with 10 digs.
• Courtney Curcio led the team with 14 digs.

How it Happened - Lewis & Clark Match

• After a dominant first set from Lewis & Clark, Tech was able to get some momentum going later in set two. Trailing by 10 at 20-10, the Scarlet Hawks went on a 9-3 run to make the score 23-19, capped off by an Alyssa Miner ace.
• Although Tech dropped set two, its momentum carried into the third set, with Tech hanging with the tough L&C squad early on. The hosts were able to hold off several Tech rallies, however, to hang on for the win.

Scarlet Hawk Standouts - Lewis & Clark Match

• Taylor Burton led Tech in kills in this one, tallying five to go along with a .231 hit percentage.
• Allison Wilkins had her first double-digit assist game as a Scarlet Hawk, notching 10 in two sets.
• Curcio paced the Hawks in digs yet again with 12.

Up Next

• The Scarlet Hawks will play twice more in Oregon tomorrow, taking on Linfield at 12:00 p.m. and George Fox at 5:00 p.m.