SALEM, Ore. - The No. 9 College of Idaho beach volleyball team opened conference play Friday with a split at the Corban Beach Volleyball Courts, falling 5-0 to Bushnell before bouncing back for a 4-1 victory over Northwest University.
In the opener, Bushnell (1-3) secured the dual by taking five of five scoring courts, though several matches went the distance.
The Yotes struck first on the exhibition court with Jayva Andersen and Reese Hickingbottom, but in scoring play, Bushnell built momentum with wins at No. 4 and No. 2 before adding a straight-sets victory at No. 5 to take control. Emily Lettenmaier and Sophia Vandenberg nearly turned the tide at No. 4, rallying for a 21-10 second-set win before falling 15-13 in the third.
Greta Valaika and Liza Montalbo forced a decisive third set at No. 1 before dropping a 21-19, 14-21, 15-5 decision, and Faith Faucher and Ellie Baker also went three at No. 3, falling 19-21, 21-18, 15-7 to close out the 5-0 result.
College of Idaho (1-1) responded emphatically in its second dual.
The Yotes took an early advantage when Emily Lettenmaier and Kadance Jacobson captured a 21-18, 21-16 win at No. 4, the first court to finish. Sophia White and Carolina Moreno Rubio followed with a three-set victory at No. 2, 21-19, 19-21, 15-6, and Faucher and Baker extended the lead with a 21-18, 21-10 triumph at No. 3.
Andersen and Hickingbottom sealed the team victory with a decisive 21-12, 21-13 win at No. 5, giving the Yotes four straight court wins. Northwest (0-2) avoided the sweep when Rylie Hangca and Kylie Rankins edged Valaika and Montalbo 23-21, 22-20 at No. 1 in the final match to finish.
With the split, the Yotes begin conference action at 1-1 heading into the remainder of the weekend in Salem.
