CALDWELL, Idaho – An efficient offensive performance was matched by an outstanding defensive effort, as the College of Idaho dominated Multnomah University in three sets tonight inside the J.A. Albertson Activities Center.
The No. 23-ranked Coyotes (11-5, 6-3 CCC) hit at a season-high .474 clip, while forcing more hitting errors than kills by the visitors in a 25-9, 25-13, 25-14 victory.
C of I finished the night with 42 kills on 78 swings – recording just five attack errors – while holding a commanding 8-2 edge in team blocks. Six different players had at least three kills and hit over 40-percent on the night, while the squad was able to rest multiple starters heading into tomorrow's match-up with Warner Pacific.
The Yotes scored seven of the first nine points of the match and closed the set on a 10-0 run – as
Jordyn Boswell recorded six of her match-high 10 kills in the frame.
The Lions (1-8, 0-8) hung around in Set 2, pulling within 10-8 on a Taylor Howie ace. C of I answered with a 5-point push, starting with kills from Boswell and
Austyn Mauzy, adding a stuff block from
Danielle Neuman in the surge that broke the set open.
MU took their largest lead of the night at 4-2 in Set 3, but the hosts rattled off 6-straight points – including the first of three combo-blocks from
Jade Warren and
Brianna Barta – and cruised to the win.
Mauzy had eight kills on 12 swings without an error,
Mackenzie Keating had six kills, with Warren logging five kills and a team-high six blocks.
Abigail Guinn had 23 assists in two sets of action, with
Drew Dobney leading C of I with 10 digs.
Emma Morcom led MU with five kills and setter Amanda Holm had 15 assists and five digs in the loss – as the Lions finished with 19 kills and 21 hitting errors on the evening.
The win marked the 200th home victory for head coach
Liz Mendiola.
C of I closes out the weekend tomorrow night with a 6 p.m. first serve vs. Warner Pacific.
