EUGENE, Ore. – The College of Idaho overcame a tough hitting night with 16 team blocks and key plays down the stretch, as the Yotes withstood Northwest Christian in five sets inside Morse Events Center.
The Coyotes (6-3, 1-1 CCC) overcame a two sets to one deficit, along with a match-point in Set 5 to pick up the 25-19, 14-25, 20-25, 25-20, 17-15 win.
C of I held a 54-41 edge in kills, but NCU (7-3, 0-2) forced 42 hitting errors by the Yotes – including 25 in the Beacons two set wins.
A dominant first set got the Yotes off on a good note, pounding down 16 kills and adding five team blocks to grab the lead. However, NCU used an 8-2 run in Set 2 to take command and scored 10 of the first 13 points in Set 3 – taking the match lead.
Trailing 10-8 in Set 4, the Coyotes turned the tide, as a block and kill from
Jade Warren and an ace from
Kaydre Thompson started a 6-point surge to regain the lead. The Beacons cut the gap to 20-19, but a pair of
Austyn Mauzy kills in a 5-1 run to end the frame forced the decisive set.
The Yotes surged to an 11-6, but NCU answered, getting a pair of spikes from Claire Salness in an 8-2 run that gave the hosts match point. C of I pulled even on a
Jordyn Boswell kill and a combo-block from Mauzy and Thompson gave the Yotes match point. Following a C of I service error, a Boswell kill, followed by a Mauzy winner allowed C of I to escape.
Ashley Pagan led C of I with 12 kills and 18 digs, with Boswell adding 12 kills and 10 digs and Thompson recording 10 kills and a career-high 10 blocks.
Brianna Barta came off the bench to record 14 assists and seven blocks, with
Drew Dobney leading all players with 25 digs.
Salness had 14 kills and 14 digs in the loss for NCU, with setter Makenna Northern recording 32 assists and 10 digs.
C of I continues their road swing next week with matches at Walla Walla at No. 10-ranked Eastern Oregon.
