CALDWELL, Idaho –
Jackie van Vliet led the College of Idaho with 12 kills and eight blocks, as the Lady Yotes overcame a slow start to defeat Warner Pacific in four sets inside the J.A. Albertson Activities Center.
The 19-25, 25-22, 25-22, 25-12 victory for the No. 16-ranked Lady Yotes (16-6, 11-3 CCC) was their fifth in a row, with the team remaining one-game out of first place in the Cascade Conference standings.
C of I recorded 10 total blocks on the night – including three in each of the final three sets – to turn the tide of the match.
The Knights (5-14, 4-10) never trailed in the opening set – as the trio of Haley Yoder, Melisa Ljuca and Lauren Tennyson each recording four kills in the period. The visitors led 18-16 in Set 2, before kills from van Vliet,
Taylor Alexander and
Mackenzie Keating helped the Yotes score six-straight points to take the lead and claim the set.
Set 3 was tight, with the teams combining for 14 ties and seven lead changes – the last at 22-22 – before consecutive
Ashley Pagan kills and a
Kayla Riley service ace handed C of I the set win.
C of I dominated Set 4 – as van Vliet had a stuff block and teamed with Alexander for another – part of a 17-5 run to open the decisive set, easing to the victory.
Pagan had 13 kills and 19 digs in the win, Alexander logged 11 kills and six blocks, with Keating recording her second-straight nine-kill match.
Marija Djonovic had 30 assists and
Drew Dobney had 24 digs to lead the Lady Yotes.
Tennyson had 16 kills and 12 digs, Ljuca had 16 kills and Yoder finished with 12 kills to lead WPU. Setter Kealia Rosa led all players with 47 assists.
C of I hits the road next weekend with road matches at Evergreen and Northwest.
