COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.– Eastern University Volleyball split a pair of matches against nationally-ranked opponents on day one of the Pikes Peak Challenge hosted by Colorado College. The No. 12 Eagles (19-3) beat No. 23 Millikin 3-1 in the first match before falling to the No. 9 hosts in a five-set marathon.

The Eagles relied on exceptional defense in the opening match win over the Millikin Big Blue (17-5). Michelle Paulsen led the way at the net with seven blocks, and Rylie Haas recorded a match-high 19 digs.

Eastern held the Millikin offense to a negative hitting percentage en route to a 25-18 first set win. Paulsen had three blocks, and Stephanie Elechko put away five kills for the early 1-0 lead. The Eastern offense scuffled to a .091 hitting percentage in the second set. Millikin took the second set, 25-18, to level the score. 

The Eagles hit .256 and .289 to claim the third and fourth sets by identical 25-23 scores. Alicia Weigel carried much of the offensive load with 13 kills in the final two sets. Weigel finished with a match-high 18 kills.

"I was really happy with the defensive effort physically and mentally, " said Head Coach Mark Birtwistle. "We had players make quick decisions leading to positive results for us. A few defensive strategies worked in our favor and we were able to execute. "

Birtwistle was very pleased with the efforts of Katie Stenby and Cecilia Bauer in their first match against a nationally-ranked opponent.

The evening test against the host Tigers started slowly. The Eagles hit struggled to find the court with their attacks and dropped the first set 25-18. Eastern started out ahead and stayed ahead until the Tigers tied the set at 21-21. The two teams exchanged sideouts until Weigel was able to put away a kill to win Eastern's 25th point of the set on serve.

Colorado College led 20-15 in the third set, but the Eagles rallied behind several spectacular defensive plays. Haas made a brilliant sprawling dig on a back-row attack that led directly to a Weigel kill that closed the gap to 20-18. Moments later, Stenby kept a point alive with a one-handed dig to put the Eagles up 24-23. Finally, Elechko pounded down her tenth kill of the set for a 26-24 win.

The Tigers put together a seven-point run in the middle of the fourth set and held on to win 25-19 to tie the match at 2-2.

Colorado College scored the first three points of the fifth set, but the Eagles scratched their way back to tie the set at 12-12. The hosts picked up a 14-13 lead on a rotation error, but the Eagles tied the match on another Weigel kill. After a Tiger sideout, Sarah Roberts put away a pair of kills to give the Eagles a 16-15 lead. Colorado College fought off the match point and scored two points on serve to claim the marathon win.

Elechko had 24 kills and 16 digs in the match. Weigel had 17 kills, and  Roberts had 11 kills and four blocks. Haas added another 26 digs.

The Eagles play Luther College and Concordia (Minn.) University in their final two matches in Colorado tomorrow.