EUGENE, Ore. – The No. 10-ranked College of Idaho beach volleyball team opened Cascade Collegiate Conference play with a 2-1 record at the CCC-Opening Tournament, securing victories over Northwest University and Bushnell University while falling to No. 2 Corban.
The Yotes (2-1, 2-1 CCC) started the weekend with a 4-1 win over Northwest, claiming straight-set victories in the No. 2, No. 4, and No. 5 pairings. The No. 5 duo of Lauren Gauna and Dariya Tlevlessova clinched the match with a dominant 21-7, 21-14 performance. The Eagles (0-3, 0-3 CCC) prevented the sweep with a win in the No. 1 flight, as Caitlin James and Kylie Lunday edged Haley Hoopes and Sydney Dews in a three-set battle, 21-19, 18-21, 15-13.
Facing the defending CCC champions, the Yotes fell 4-1 to No. 2 Corban in their second match of the weekend. The Warriors (3-1, 3-0 CCC) swept four of the five matchups, highlighted by a dominant performance at the No. 3 flight from Emmi Marks and Jessica McMillan, who limited their opponents to just 22 total points. College of Idaho avoided the shutout as Gauna and Tlevlessova rallied for a three-set victory at No. 5, 13-21, 21-16, 15-13.
The Yotes bounced back in their final match, defeating Bushnell 4-1 to claim their second conference victory. Hoopes and Dews picked up their first win of the season at the No. 1 flight, winning 21-19, 21-13, while Faith Faucher and Maya Blake sealed the team victory at No. 3 with a decisive 15-3 third-set win. Gauna and Tlevlessova completed their perfect weekend at No. 5, securing another three-set win, 21-17, 17-21, 15-12.
College of Idaho will look to build on its early-season momentum.
