CALDWELL, Idaho – A dominant performance by the No. 15 ranked College of Idaho propelled the Lady Yotes to the NAIA Volleyball National Championship Final Site for the ninth time in 11 years, sweeping Xavier University of Louisiana in today's Opening Round match in the J.A. Albertson Activities Center.
The Lady Yotes (22-10) won for the 11th-straight time at home with the 25-18, 25-11, 25-14 victory, improving to 6-1 all-time at home in the Opening Round.
Cascade Conference Player of the Year
Kylie Porter led C of I with 12 kills, with
Katy Robinson adding 11 kills and four blocks – as the Yotes hit .395 on the afternoon and added 11 team blocks.
The loss ended an 11-match win streak for the Gold Nuggets (19-8), as Claudia Haywood led XULA with eight kills.
C of I used a quick 7-1 run in Set 1 to build an early lead, with XULA cutting the gap to 20-17 on a Haywood kill. Porter took over, smashing four kills in the final six points to close out the period.
The Lady Yotes never trailed in Set 2, running off the final 10 points of the set, including three blocks from freshman
Jackie van Vliet.
A Haywood kill helped the Gold Nuggets cut a C of I lead in Set 3 to 8-6, but Robinson and Porter had a pair of kills in twin 7-2 runs to break open the set, sending the Yotes to Sioux City.
Abbey Fenton had seven kills; van Vliet had seven kills and seven blocks; with
Sierra Porter adding a match-high 40 assists and six digs.
Kilee Lopez led all players with 16 digs.
Taylor Reuther notched seven kills; Franziska Pirkl had 25 assists, and CeCe Williams had 11 digs to led XULA.
The Lady Yotes will learn their Pool Play assignment tomorrow night at 5 p.m. and will open play at Gateway Arena in the Siouxland on Dec. 1.
