EWU loses to Weber State, heads next to Montana
JOEL MARTIN | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 9 months, 3 weeks AGO
Eastern Washington University’s Olivia Burns faces off against Weber State Nov. 8. The Eagles will take to the road this week, playing Montana State tonight and Montana on Saturday.
COURTESY PHOTO/EWU ATHLETICS
Joel Martin has been with the Columbia Basin Herald for more than 25 years in a variety of roles and is the most-tenured employee in the building. Martin is a married father of eight and enjoys spending time with his children and his wife, Christina. He is passionate about the paper’s mission of informing the people of the Columbia Basin because he knows it is important to record the history of the communities the publication serves. | November 13, 2025 1:30 AM
CHENEY — The Eastern Washington University volleyball team fell Friday to Weber State 20-25, 15-25 and 23-25, according to a statement from EWU Athletics.
“I feel like I'm a broken record here where I come in and get a chance to express some things, and it's like we're always making some really good strides and just coming up a little bit short,” said head coach Jon Haruguchi. "Again, that's kind of the story of today, but I'm real proud of how we fought throughout this match. I thought we did some really, really nice things – you know, we had a really nice standout performance from (Cassandra Moeller) here, and she's been working a lot in practice, so it's really nice to see that come through in a match.”
The Wildcats controlled the tempo from the start, applying offensive pressure and finding separation using five straight points to go up 24-18, according to a statement from Weber State University Athletics, and then secured the set on a kill from Brielle Rueckert, 25-20. Weber State used a 6-0 run early to take a 6-1 advantage over the Eagles in the second set. Continuing that momentum, another six-point run boosted the Wildcats to a 17-8 lead. The set closed 25-15.
The Eagles were able to stay close behind the Wildcats at 18-17 in the third set, according to Weber State Athletics, but three straight kills by the Wildcats resulted in an Eastern Washington timeout. Returning from the break, the Eagles battled using three points to trail 22-21, but a kill by Rose Moore and two by Jayda Tupea then secured the set 25-23 and the match 3-0.
The Eagles’ offense was led by Kalista Lukovich with 11 kills, and Moeller had a career night, according to EWU.
“It was a little nerve-wracking at first – definitely felt that rush of adrenaline," Moeller said. "My main goal was just to come in, swing, be aggressive, and not worry about mistakes. I've been working on hitting the edges of the block in practice, and that's been working well for me, so I stuck with that game plan.”
EWU will take on Montana State tonight and Montana on Saturday.
ARTICLES BY JOEL MARTIN
Quincy National Night Out scales down
QUINCY — Quincy’s National Night Out was more compact this year, which worked out well, said QPD Sgt. Joe Westby, who’s in charge of event planning for the Quincy Police Department. “National Night Out is a big event, and the fact that we’re able to shrink it up is like a breath of fresh air,” Westby said. “If you're always doing the same thing, it's kind of nice to switch things up and see how it works.” National Night Out took place Thursday on the block of C Street next to the police station, a shift from previous years when it was held at Lauzier Park. The smaller space meant fewer emergency vehicles for children to explore, but it also meant less walking for attendees. Grant County Fire District 5 brought a fire truck, and the Grant County Sheriff’s Office had a patrol boat. Renew, the Grant County behavioral health agency, had a booth and so did Quincy Partnership for Youth. Veterans Operation Creation sang the national anthem, and the Quincy Animal Shelter brought kittens that piled over each other making friends with passersby. As before, the QPD served grilled hot dogs.
Quincy Police retirements leave big shoes to fill
QUINCY — There are some big shoes to fill at the Quincy Police Department. “We’re losing 48 years of experience between them,” Quincy Police Chief Ryan Green said at the retirement party for Capt. Jorge Trujillo and Det. Damon Powell Thursday. Trujillo, who grew up in Sunnyside, has been with QPD for 19 years, he said, coming on as a patrol officer fresh out of the military. From there he served as a field training officer, a detective and finally captain. “I consider him my left-hand man,” Green said. “He runs the operations side of the house … He knows the agency very well, and he knows the community.” Trujillo has some projects around the house to tackle now that he’s retired, he said.
Big fun on a small scale
Wheat Land Communities’ Fair opens Thursday
RITZVILLE — The Wheat Land Communities’ Fair isn’t as big or as flashy as some of the county fairs around central Washington, but the folks who keep it going like it just the way it is. “It’s somewhere you can go and get an old-time traditional feeling, and you’re comfortable letting your kids roam the grounds and experience all that it has to offer,” said Board Member Lori Williams. “It’s more of a feeling than (one) specific thing,” The fair starts Thursday in Ritzville and runs through Sunday. Starting Friday, the 56th Ritzville Rodeo will take place alongside the fair at the rodeo grounds. This year the entertainment budget was expanded, Williams said, to be able to offer more fun that’s covered by the cost of admission. For the kids, there’s face painting, balloon art, Lego crafts, races, contests and games. Children can also ride on a little train towed around the fairgrounds behind a tractor.