SEATTLE, Wash. — The College of Idaho beach volleyball team opened play at the final Cascade Collegiate Conference Tournament of the regular season with a split on Friday, falling 3-2 to Northwest University before bouncing back with a 3-2 win over Simpson University at 4th Ave Beach.
In the opener, the Yotes (5-7) dropped a tightly contested dual to Northwest (3-9), despite rallying with wins in the final two completed matches. After the Eagles secured straight-set victories at Nos. 2 and 3, the Yotes answered with a comeback at No. 4 as Emily Lettenmaier and Reese Hickingbottom rebounded from a first-set loss to win in three sets, 20-22, 21-6, 15-7.
Kelsy Stanger and Sophia Vandenberg followed with a straight-set win at No. 5, 21-19, 21-13, pulling the dual even at two matches apiece. Northwest clinched the team victory at No. 1, where Rylie Hangca and Kylie Rankins earned a 21-18, 21-13 win.
The Yotes responded in their second dual of the day, edging Simpson (0-13) in another 3-2 decision to improve to 6-7 overall.
Carolina Moreno-Rubio and Sophia White provided a key point at No. 2 with a decisive 21-14, 21-10 victory, while the duo of Masina Wooley and Sophia Vandenberg dominated at No. 5, 21-10, 21-8.
The clinching point came from Kelsy Stanger and Kadance Jacobson at No. 4, who battled back after dropping the first set to win 14-21, 21-15, 15-12 and secure the dual for the Yotes.
Simpson claimed wins at Nos. 1 and 3, including a marathon three-set victory at the top spot, but the Yotes' depth in the middle of the lineup proved decisive.
The College of Idaho closes out the regular season Saturday with a doubleheader.
