PORTLAND, Ore. – A stellar offensive performance, coupled with the best defensive numbers since 2015 helped The College of Idaho to a 3-set win at Warner Pacific, giving head coach
Liz Mendiola her 450th career victory.
The Coyotes (5-9, 2-4 CCC) recorded a season-high .380 attack percentage, while holding WPU to a woeful negative .024 attack clip in the 25-10, 25-14, 25-10 road win.
The 21st-year head coach becomes the third C of I skipper to win 450 or more games – joining baseball coaches
Shawn Humberger and Tim Mooney. Mendiola is the all-time leader in wins among Coyote coaches of women's sports.
C of I dominated the night, closing Set 1 on a 20-5 run – as both
Leyah de Souza and
Emily Vandenberg had four kills in the period – as the Yotes posted 15 kills with just one hitting error.
The winless Knights (0-9, 0-6) took their only lead of the match in Set 2 at 2-1, before a Vandenberg kill and ace sparked a 7-1 C of I run to take an 8-3 lead. The Yotes pulled away, combining for four team blocks in the set.
Set 3 was all C of I, as Vandenberg logged two aces in a 7-0 run to open the frame, pushing the lead to 15-5 on back-to-back
Ella Fischer aces – as the Yotes finished the night with 10 aces.
The Yotes had a balanced attack, as de Souza had nine kills on 13 swings, Vandenberg had eight kills, four aces and 11 digs, with
Cameron Wallace and
Danielle Neuman each recording five kills, combining for seven blocks. Setter
Sydnee Steel led C of I with 22 assists.
WPU finished with just 18 kills, coupled with 20 hitting errors – the lowest attack percentage by a C of I opponent since Oregon Tech hit at a negative .041 six years ago. Grace Buchanan led the Knights with 10 kills.
C of I closes their trip to the Rose City tomorrow, meeting Multnomah at 5 p.m. (PDT)
