FULLERTON, Calif. – College of Idaho split a pair of matches today to close out play at the HIU SummerSlam inside Darling Pavilion.
The Yotes opened up Day 2 with a tough 3-set loss to host Hope International, but bounced back in the afternoon, outlasting the defending California Pacific Conference champion Benedictine Mesa in four sets to complete the opening weekend, 2-2.
C of I will return home next weekend to play host to the C of I-Eastern Oregon Fall Classic – a 3-day, 12-game tournament that will welcome Eastern Oregon, Montana Western, Carroll, The Master's and Dordt.
MATCH 1 – HOPE INTERNATIONAL 3, COLLEGE OF IDAHO 0 (26-24, 25-16, 25-21)
Austyn Mauzy led the Coyotes with 11 kills, but the host Royals rallied for an opening set win and rode the momentum for the 3-set sweep.
C of I led 23-20 in Set 1 and had two set points – but HIU scored the final four points of the period and claimed the win. The hosts kept the rally going, opening Set 2 on a 10-4 run and never trailed and used a 4-0 run to erase a 15-14 Yote lead in Set 3 for complete the sweep.
Leyah de Souza had seven kills and three blocks and
Danielle Neuman posted six kills in the loss for C of I.
MATCH 2 – COLLEGE OF IDAHO 3, BENEDICTINE MESA 1 (25-13, 19-25, 26-24, 25-23)
Emily Vandenberg recorded career-highs with 14 kills, 10 digs and five aces, with Mauzy adding 12 kills, nine digs and three aces as C of I held off late rallies in the final two sets to claim the win.
The Yotes breezed through Set 1, forcing 12 Redhawks (0-4) hitting errors – as Vandenberg had two kills and two aces in a 9-0 run early in the period, as C of I opened the match with a 13-2 lead.
BenU rebounded in Set 2, taking a 7-2 lead and never gave it up – as Brianna Rivera had seven of her match-high 20 kills in the set.
Mauzy had two kills and an ace in a six-point run in Set 3 to give the Coyotes a 9-4 lead, but the Redhawks clawed back to tie the score at 23-23. Following two side outs, a BenU block error gave C of I the chance and Vandenberg put away a swing to give C of I the win.
Set 4 featured seven ties before the Yotes took a lead at 15-14 and never gave it up. BenU pulled to within one point six times, but Mauzy ended the match with a kill to allow C of I to split the four game week.
Neuman had seven kills,
Cameron Wallace posted six kills and five blocks,
Sidney Frith had 24 assists and
Isabelle Combs logged 13 digs to lead the way.
