Yotes Top L-C, Lose to #2 Concordia-Irvine in 5
By Mike Safford
It nearly was the greatest day in College of Idaho volleyball history, but the Lady Yotes used stellar play to split a pair of five set matches, stopping host Lewis-Clark State, but losing a heartbreaking affair with No. 2 ranked Concordia-Irvine in Lewiston.
In the nightcap, the No. 18 ranked Lady Yotes (1-1) withstood a record crowd of over 800 strong to top the two-time defending Frontier Conference champions, 25-21, 22-25, 25-20, 20-25, 17-15.
After battling to a deadlock after four sets, The C of I withstood a pair of match-points by the Warriors (1-1), getting back-to-back kills from Naomi Reimer to take a 16-15 edge. Transfer Nathy Neres then had a solid serve that resulted in a free ball, with setter Madie Machurek spiking home the winner – ending a two-match losing streak to L-C.
Reimer notched her third-straight triple double with 13 kills, 23 assists, and 15 digs, while Kathryn Ely added a team-high 15 kills. Kristin Henning had 11 kills and five blocks in the win, with Machurek recording 19 assists and 12 digs. Whitney Owen had a career-high 34 digs for the Yotes.
Anile Clemente was on fire for L-C, recording a match-high 16 kills, 21 digs, and eight aces, with Kelli Tikker registering a double-double with ten kills and 18 digs.
Reimer recorded her fourth career triple-double in today's opener as The C of I put a serious scare into No. 2 ranked Concordia-Irvine, but the Eagles used a four-point push in the decisive fifth set to stop the Lady Yotes, 26-28, 28-26, 26-24, 20-25, 15-13.
Tied 8-8 in the finale, back-to-back Brooke Marino kills gave the 2008 NAIA national runners-up the lead, with a Serrina Russo spike and a Jenna Salo ace giving CUI (5-0) a 12-8 lead. The Yotes would battle back, closing to 13-12 on a Machurek kill and 14-13 on a Reimer kill, but Stephanie Darnell put the match away with a closing spike.
The Lady Yotes, who were playing without returning starters Sarah Harris and Marcella Hernandez, had their chances to put away their California opponents, holding set-point at 25-24 in Set 2, while jumping out to a 12-7 lead in Set 3.
Reimer had a career-high 22 kills, to go along with 29 assists and 11 digs, Henning had 13 kills and a career-high 12 blocks, while Jessie Link and Ely each had 12 kills. Machurek recorded 32 assists and 14 digs, while Owen had 32 digs in the loss.
Marino led the Eagles with 17 kills, while Darnell recorded a double-double with 12 kills and 15 digs.
The Yotes will return to action on Saturday, meeting Northwest at 10 a.m. (PT) and Great Falls at 4 p.m. (PT).