Libero Whitney Owen set C of I school record with 41 digs vs. L-C State
SIOUX CITY, Iowa - The College of Idaho secured a spot in bracket play for just the second time in school history, as the Lady Yotes defeated in-state rival Lewis-Clark State 21-25, 25-10, 25-18, 25-20 at the 2009 NAIA Volleyball National Championships inside the Tyson Events Center.
Whitney Owen set a school record with 41 digs as the Lady Yotes (26-2) guaranteed themselves a spot in bracket play for the first time since the 2006 season, when they lost a three-set decision to Columbia (Mo.).
The eighth-seeded Lady Yotes won their 13th match in a row, moving to 2-0 in Pool E play – joining fifth-seeded Azusa Pacific atop the standings. The two West Coast teams will battle tomorrow at 5:45 p.m. (CST) to determine the Pool's No. 1 and No.2 seeds into Friday’s single-elimination bracket play.
Early on, the No. 21 ranked Warriors (24-9), the Frontier Conference champions, used a 7-0 run, fueled by three Anile Clemente kills, to erase an early C of I lead, taking a 15-9 edge. The Yotes would get as close as 21-20 on an L-C hitting error, but three consecutive Clemente spikes gave the Lewiston bunch the opening frame.
From there, it was all Lady Yotes – using a tenacious defense that racked up a season-high 117 digs, to gain control of the match. An 8-1 run, including kills from four different players, staked the Yotes to a 10-3 lead, cruising to the set win. Set 3 was dominated by Ciciley Fox, who powered her way to six kills in the win, including crucial spikes after the Warriors drew within two points midway through the frame.
The final set was a see-saw affair, as the Coyotes surged out to a 16-9 lead, only to watch L-C close the margin to 19-18 on a Lauryn Herrick kill. However, the Yotes went to senior middle Kristin Henning, who had three late kills, as The C of I defeated the Warriors for the second time this season.
Fox had 12 kills and nine digs, with Kathryn Ely adding 11 kills in the win for the Yotes. Marcella Hernandez had nine kills and seven blocks, Henning added eight kills and five blocks, with Naomi Reimer registering seven kills, 26 assists, ten digs, and four blocks.
Five different C of I players recorded double-digit digs, led by Owen – who surpassed Charity Gaston’s school record of 39 digs (set during a five-set, 30-point rally system match) from 2005. Madie Machurek logged 22 assists and 22 digs, Courtney Combe had 14 digs, with Stacie Drumm recording 12 digs.
Clemente led the Warriors with 14 kills and 23 digs, but L-C was done in by 30 attack errors. Dana Christiansen and Herrick each had nine kills in the loss, with setter Lisa Davis had 19 assists and 16 digs.
The Lady Yotes are one of eight teams in Pool Play that are currently undefeated – with The C of I, Azusa Pacific, Concordia (Calif.), Cal Baptist, and Texas-Brownsville having clinched spots in Friday’s single-elimination action.