CALDWELL, Idaho –
Danielle Neuman recorded a career-high 21 kills, as The College of Idaho celebrated Senior Night with a 5-set upset of No. 13 ranked Corban University inside the J.A. Albertson Activities Center.
The Yotes (5-11, 5-9 CCC) ended a 6-match losing streak with their best performance of the season, posting 67 kills as a team in a 25-21, 21-25, 18-25, 26-24, 15-9 victory over the nationally-ranked foe.
The lone C of I senior,
Brianna Barta had six kills and three blocks in the victory, with
Cameron Wallace posting 10 kills and seven blocks and
Chloe Knudson finishing with a career-best 30 digs.
"This team has endured so much this year and they still came to practice happy to be there and with great energy every single day," said head coach
Liz Mendiola. "We have seen this level of play in practices and it was amazing to finally see it come out in a match."
C of I blitzed the Warriors (10-4, 10-4) in the first set, with three kills from both Neuman and Wallace staked the hosts to a 12-4 lead, a margin that would grow to 20-10 in the win.
The Warriors answered, using a 12-4 run in Set 2 to erase a 15-11 C of I lead and a 9-3 run to end Set 3 to take command of the match. CU looked to close out a win, claiming a 24-21 lead in Set 4, but back-to-back Neuman kills and a combo-block by Wallace and
Emily Vandenberg, got the Yotes even. Following a timeout and a Corban hitting error, Vandenberg delivered a smash to send the match to a fifth set.
Set 5 featured seven ties, the last at 8-8, before back-to-back Barta blocks built the Yotes an 11-8 lead. Neuman followed with consecutive kills and an
Austyn Mauzy spike completed the victory.
Mauzy had 11 kills and seven digs, with
Jade Warren adding eight kills and four blocks.
Abigail Guinn had a season-high 38 kills in the victory.
Avari Ridgway led Corban with 15 kills, with Ciarra Judson posting 30 assists and Kealani Ontai finishing with 24 digs.
