Gazette-Times


Senior Ashley Evans had 20 digs but the Oregon State volleyball team concluded its season on Friday with a 3-0 loss to No. 2 Stanford at Gill Coliseum. Set scores were 28-26, 25-18, 25-19.

Senior Lauren Rinderknecht had six kills, 10 digs and a team-high five blocks and senior Natalie Hooper had two digs and an assist in their final collegiate matches.

“A great congratulations to the three seniors,” OSU (14-17, 3-15) coach Taras Liskevych said. “They’ve been great for the program, the epitome of what a student-athlete is about. We played really well throughout the match, especially in the first set.

“We were relaxed and had a good demeanor, and I was happy with that.

“Overall it was a great effort and we look forward to next year.”

Junior Rachel Rourke led all hitters with 18 kills; sophomore Jill Sawatzky added 11. Junior Bree Knitter had four blocks.

OSU led through most of the first set and used eight kills by Rourke to take a 16-9 advantage. Stanford eventually tied the set at 22-22 and ties ensued through 26-26 but Stanford (26-3, 17-1) eventually prevailed, and then won the final two sets.

Cynthia Barboza led the Cardinal with 14 kills; libero Gabi Ailes had 24 digs.

Evans finished her career second on the seniors list for single-season digs with 415 and was eighth in career digs with 1,094.

Rourke had 497 kills this season and has 1,378, third overall, heading into her senior season.