Box ScoreCALDWELL, Idaho – Elayna Rice led Northwest Nazarene with 19 kills and 12 digs, helping the Crusaders to a four-set victory over the College of Idaho in an exhibition match between the rivals inside the J.A. Albertson Activities Center.
In a battle between 2014 conference champions, the Crusaders, who won the Great Northwest Athletic Conference, topped the Yotes, the Cascade Conference champs 25-20, 25-17, 21-25, 25-20.
Rice was key in the Set 1 win, combining with Madi Farrell – each recording a kill and a combo-block in a five-point surge to break a 17-17 tie.
NNU used an 8-1 push in Set 2, getting two Taylor VanValey kills and a block to erase a 5-4 C of I lead and eased to the win.
The Yotes rode the back of Abbey Fenton in Set 3, recording three-straight kills to give C of I an early lead they would not relinquish. The junior would record six of her team-high 16 kills in the set.
In Set 4, 12 ties and seven lead changes set the stage for a late 7-2 NNU push to break a 18-18 tie, with two Jenna Caywood kills part of the ending run.
VanValey had 15 kills, Linnea Phillips had 18 digs, and Hailey Cook finished with 54 assists and nine digs for the Crusaders.
Kylie Porter had 11 kills, Katy Robinson had eight kills, with Sierra Porter recording 42 assists and 14 digs in the loss.
C of I returns to action on Friday, playing both Hope International and Rocky Mountain at the Big Sky Challenge in Butte, Mont.
