CALDWELL, Idaho – A short-handed College of Idaho had a gutsy performance against in-state rival Lewis-Clark State, but the visiting Warriors rallied for a Set 3 win and completed a 4-set victory over the Yotes inside the J.A. Albertson Activities Center.
LCSC (6-5, 1-2 CCC) ended a 5-match losing streak with the 25-21, 22-25, 25-23, 25-17 win, as Cassidy Nelson led the Warriors with 19 kills and 13 digs.
The Coyotes (3-8, 0-3) had a spirited start in Set 1, as two
Jade Warren kills fueled a 7-1 start for the hosts. The lead would grow to 11-4 on an
Ella Fischer kill, with C of I holding a 17-11 lead after an LC hitting error. The visitors answered in a big way, as Tori Edwards had three kills in an 11-2 run that flipped the momentum and gave LCSC the set win.
Set 2 was the Yotes turn for a late-set rally, as two kills from
Kylie Crossland and
Emily Vandenberg helped C of I pull away from a 16-16 tie, eventually pushing a lead to 23-19 and earning the victory.
C of I had the momentum in Set 3 – as two Fischer kills gave the Yotes a 10-4 lead, with consecutive
Brenna Hawkins kills helping the hosts to an 18-13 lead. Following a side out, back-to-back blocks by Carli Berntson and Jada Wyms started a 5-0 LC run to pull even, while kills from Edwards and Nelson breaking a 23-23 tie to help the Warriors steal the set.
LCSC never trailed in Set 4, as Nelson posted four kills in a 12-4 surge that broke open a close set.
Two Yotes had double-doubles in the loss, as Vandenberg posted 11 kills and 10 digs, with
Sidney Frith recording 22 assists and 11 digs – as C of I was playing without three starters. Fischer had a career-high 10 kills, Crossland recorded a season-high nine kills, with both Warren and
Leyah de Souza finishing with seven kills.
Sydnee Steel had 22 assists in the loss, with
Masie Hancock recording a career-high 24 digs.
Edwards had 14 kills on 28 swings for LC, with Wyms adding 10 kills. Hannah Martinez posted 30 assists and two aces and Channa Hart recorded five blocks.
C of I returns to action tomorrow night at 9 p.m., hosting Walla Walla.
