ASHLAND, Ore. - Southern Oregon swept the College of Idaho 25-20, 26-24, 25-23 in a conference match Friday night at Lithia Motors Pavilion, outhitting the Yotes .216 to .130.
CI's attack never found its footing in the opening set. The Yotes committed 13 attack errors and hit -.056, and Southern Oregon's front row recorded six blocks. The hosts scored the first three points and led 9-4 before CI climbed back, with Cooper Nave serving three straight points to tie it at 11. The Yotes never led, though, and Duda Leite and Tessa Zimmermann combined for three kills over the final four points.
The second set was the closest of the night, with 11 ties and five lead changes. Two Abigail Flerchinger kills put CI ahead 16-15, but Southern Oregon outscored the Yotes 9-2 from there to reach set point at 24-18. CI then saved five straight set points. Keylee Wilson's kill started the run, Kadence Boyd served an ace, Kelsy Stanger added a kill, and Alexa Wheeler and Julia Baird teamed up for three consecutive blocks to tie it at 24. Zimmermann and Friley Curtiss answered with back-to-back kills to end it.
Southern Oregon never trailed in the third. CI tied it four times, the last at 9-9, and after a Maelle Garon ace made it 16-12, two Cora Young kills and a Stanger and Flerchinger block pulled the Yotes within 16-15. Trailing 23-20, CI got back-to-back kills from Wilson to make it 23-22. Curtiss then blocked Wilson for match point and, after a Southern Oregon service error, ended it with a kill.
Curtiss led Southern Oregon (18-7, 10-5) with 14 kills and three blocks. Leite hit .467 with eight kills, Maya Watters added seven, and Lanie Snow had seven block assists. Annie Hite and Isabelle Foote combined for 33 assists, and Garon led all players with 14 digs.
Stanger led CI with 10 kills on .364 hitting and two blocks. Flerchinger added six kills, Wilson had five, and Addison McKarcher had four kills without an error in the third set. Shaynee McWilliams had 23 assists, Avery Lewis had 12 digs, and Boyd added eight digs and two aces. Wheeler and Baird each had four block assists.
CI fell to 20-2 overall and 13-2 in conference play.