SIOUX CITY, Iowa – Facing the unbeaten and No. 1 ranked team in the NAIA, the College of Idaho battled throughout the afternoon, but Grand View University proved too much, as the Vikings earned a three-set victory to close out Pool Play at the NAIA Volleyball National Championships inside Tyson Events Center.
The 25-22, 25-21, 27-25 victory for GVU (35-0) helped the Iowa squad earn the top seed in tomorrow's single-elimination bracket – fighting off a tough challenge in all three sets by C of I.
The Lady Yotes (24-9), who lost just their third three-set match in their last 84 contests, will play either No. 2 ranked Park (Mo.) or No. 15 Westmont (Calif.) at 1:30 p.m.
The Vikings, champions of the Heart of America Athletic Conference built a 21-16 lead in the opening frame, only to see the Yotes rattle of six of the next seven points – including a pair of kills from
Ashley Pagan – to even the score at 22-22. Following a timeout, GVU got a side out on a Kelsey Redmond kill and following an Ashley Prushka kill, Redmond closed out the set with a cross-court winner.
C of I had the edge in Set 2, as two Pagan kills and a winner from
Mali Sawyer, gave the Yotes their largest lead of the match at 14-11. The Vikings drew even at 20-20 and two combo-blocks from Meagan Miller and Prushka highlighted a 5-1 run to end the set.
GVU looked to close the match out with ease, taking a 19-14 lead in Set 3 – but C of I clawed at 20-20 after a string of four Pagan kills. The two teams would combine for 11 consecutive side outs – with the Yotes fighting off a pair of match points – before a C of I hitting error ended the match.
Pagan led the Yotes with 13 kills and 10 digs,
Taylor Alexander recorded 10 kills, 10 digs and five blocks – as C of I held a 11-6 edge in total blocks. Sawyer had nine kills – a postseason high for her – with
Marija Djonovic recording 34 assists and eight digs.
Redmond led all players with 15 kills and Miller had a 13-kill, 17-dig, 4-block slash line. GVU used a 73-57 edge in digs in the victory.
The Yotes were one of four Cascade Conference teams to advance to tomorrow's bracket play – as Southern Oregon, Eastern Oregon and Corban all join C of I in the 16-team knockout round.
