COMING UP: Host CCC C of I Pod #2 – Friday vs. Bushnell (9 a.m. / 1 p.m.), Saturday vs. Warner Pacific (9 a.m. / 1 p.m.)
COMPLETE WEEKLY MEDIA NOTES
SPECTATOR POLICY: Per the Cascade Conference Return to Play Protocol, spectators are currently not allowed to attend volleyball matches inside the J.A. Albertson Activities Center, however, beginning March 19, a limited number of fans will be allowed for CCC matches.
BROADCAST INFORMATION: All C of I home matches (including all eight matches this weekend in the CCC C of I Pod #2), will be broadcast live (pay-per-view, $8.99 per game, $24.99 for season pass for all home matches) on the
Yotes Digital Network with Mike Safford and
Sven Alskog providing commentary.
CASCADE CONFERENCE POD RETURNS TO CALDWELL: For the second time in three weeks, the Activities Center will be a hub of volleyball action, as four teams will compete at the Cascade Conference C of I Pod #2. Following the weekend, along with a 4-team pod in Lewiston, all eight teams competing this spring in the CCC will have completed eight of their 14 league matches. The pod in Caldwell will again feature C of I and Eastern Oregon, with Lewis-Clark State and Corban at the Lewiston pod, while the remaining four teams flipping venues from two weeks ago – Bushnell and Warner Pacific coming to the Treasure Valley, with Oregon Tech and Multnomah trekking to the LC Valley.
WILL THE YOTES PLAY ROAD GAMES: The Coyotes have yet to play a match outside the Activities Center, with the squad scheduled to make a trip on March 19-20 to Eastern Oregon. The CCC had is Return to Play Protocol approved by the State of Oregon, which will allow volleyball matches to be played as long as the host school's county has moved into either the low risk or medium risk categories of COVID spread (which includes Union County, home of EOU). The following week, C of I will travel to Lewiston for a pair of matches against LC State.
LONGEST STRETCH OF HOME MATCHES?: C of I has opened the 2020-21 season with five home matches – with that number increasing to nine after the four matches set to be played within the pod. Prior to this season, the Yotes had never played more than 3-straight matches to open a season at home (2011), with the potential of 9-straight home games equaling the school record set from Oct. 4-19 in 1996 (as C of I sandwiched five CCC matches with their Blocktoberfest Tournament).
OPPONENT PREVIEW – BUSHNELL: The Yotes will get two cracks at Bushnell to start the weekend, a rematch of the quarterfinals of last season's CCC Championships in which the Beacons (6-2. 2-2 CCC) won in three sets. Formerly Northwest Christian, Bushnell has a perfect 4-0 record in non-conference action – sweeping matches vs. Simpson, William Jessup and George Fox – while winning two road dates at Lewis-Clark State and losing a pair to Corban. The Beacons lead the CCC in digs per set (21.32), paced by libero Callie Wilkins (6.92 d/s), with setter Makenna Northern (10.88 a/s, 1.63 d/s) leading an offense that has three players averaging at least two kills per set – Claire Salness (3.15 k/s, 2.92 d/s), Natalie Martin (2.24 k/s, 0.82 b/s) and Camille Guerrero (2.36 k/s, 4.09 d/s).
OPPONENT PREVIEW – WARNER PACIFIC: Saturday, the Coyotes will host Warner Pacific, as the Knights (0-4, 0-4) are searching for their first win of the season. WPU struggled offensively in pod play at LCSC, hitting at a .085 percentage, while allowing 2.3 aces per set and only posting four total blocks in the four matches. Grace Buchanan (3.25 k/s, 1.50 d/s) is the go-to offensive player, while Matalasi Laban (1.67 k/s, 4.92 a/s, 1.92 d/s) is a 6-rotation setter/hitter and Mercedes Massey (3.00 d/s) leads the back row. The Yotes have never lost to the Knights in Caldwell, taking a 22-match win streak into the weekend.
COYOTES SWEPT BY EOU: C of I stepped away from conference play, albeit against a CCC foe, meeting No. 8 ranked Eastern Oregon on Saturday. Though the Yotes dropped the match in three sets, C of I played EOU tight through the first two sets – pulling within 24-23 in Set 1 and holding a 17-16 lead in Set 2, before the Mountaineers battled back. C of I's defense limited EOU to a .180 hitting percentage – well below their season average and posted 10 team blocks.
WARREN HAS BIG AFTERNOON: Against Eastern, the Coyotes were led by
Jade Warren, as the middle blocker paced the squad with eight kills – and leads the team with 39 kills and a 3.00 kills per set average. The sophomore posted four blocks – including three stuff blocks, the first time a C of I player recorded three solo blocks in a match since Jackie van Vliet in 2018.
BLOCK WORKS WELL: Success in the front row was key against EOU, as the Yotes posted 10 combined blocks in the match. Middle blocker
Cameron Wallace and opposite hitter
Sarah Gold each posted five block assists on the day – with Wallace finishing with five kills on 11 swings and Gold adding three kills on nine attacks with no errors. Both players rank among the Top-5 in the CCC in blocks per set – Wallace at 1.15 and Gold at 1.44.
CARPENTER SETTLING INTO LIBERO ROLE: True freshman
Ali Carpenter won the libero job during preseason camp and has continued to improve as the season has rolled on. The first-year player led C of I with 17 digs in Saturday's match, her third-straight contest with double-digit digs and has recorded 9-or-more digs in every match this season. Carpenter currently averages 5.1 digs per set – No. 3 in the CCC.
RECORD BOOK: Two Coyotes rank among the Top-20 in the career record book, as
Abigail Guinn ranks No. 11 in assists (994) and
Margie Beeler is No. 14 in assists (441).
PRESEASON POLLS: The Yotes were picked to finish third in the preseason CCC Coaches' Poll – trailing only Eastern Oregon and Corban. Bushnell, Lewis-Clark State and Oregon Tech round out the Top-5. In the first NAIA Coaches' Poll of 2021, EOU was ranked No. 8 and Corban No. 13, with C of I the second team listed in the receiving votes category – with the Coyotes ranked or receiving votes each of the last 16 seasons.
HOME COURT SUCCESS: Since October of 2005, C of I has posted a 171-22 record at home – including a 73-match Cascade Conference win streak – with the team 258-58 all-time in the arena. Head coach
Liz Mendiola has recorded a home record of 206-32 in her 20 seasons as head coach
A MARK OF CONSISTENCY: The Yotes have been one of the premier volleyball programs in the Northwest, recording 20 or more victories 19 times, including 12 of the past 14 seasons – with the team recording 23-straight seasons with a .500 or better record. C of I has won 25 or more matches 12 different times, with the 2006 team setting the school record with 35 victories.
