CALDWELL, Idaho – Facing their first NCAA Division II opponent since 2014, The College of Idaho battled throughout, but Westminster College took a 3-set win over the Yotes inside the J.A. Albertson Activities Center.
The Griffins (6-9), from Salt Lake City, claimed a 25-18, 25-21, 33-31 win, ending the Yotes 2-game win streak.
Hitters Katie Jacox and Audrey Green led WC with nine kills, with Jacox leading all players with four aces.
Green was instrumental in the Griffins opening up a 2-0 set lead – putting away a pair of kills in a 5-0 run that broke a 6-6 tie in Set 1, leading the visitors for the period win. In Set 2, after the Yotes (4-6) pulled even at 16-16, Green started a 7-1 surge by the visitors with two kills give WC the big lead.
Set 3 was back and forth – as C of I erased an early deficit, pulling even at 21-21 on a combo block by
Austyn Mauzy and
Jade Warren. The two teams would squander opportunities, as the Yotes had five set point chances – the last at 30-29, while the Griffins had three match points go by the wayside. C of I led 31-30, but a service error, followed by a stuff block by Malinda Messner gave WC their fourth match point, with Maya Harnaoka slamming home the winner.
The 33-31 score marked the third time in 25-point rally scoring that the Yotes and an opponent played to a score of 33 (2014 vs. Eastern Oregon, 34-32; 2016 vs. Corban, 33-31).
Mauzy led C of I with 12 kills and
Danielle Neuman added eight kills in the loss. Setter
Abigail Guinn posted 20 assists, with
Cameron Wallace and
Sarah Gold each recording four blocks and
Chloe Knudson finishing with 15 digs and two aces.
The Yotes hit the road for the first time this season, traveling next weekend for matches at Eastern Oregon.
