Lady Yotes Outlast Southern, Clinch Home Playoff Date
CALDWELL, Idaho –
Brenna Meehan had a match-high 19 kills and
Sydney Call made the most of her first start as the Yotes primary setter, as the College of Idaho clinched a Cascade Conference Tournament quarterfinal home date with a four-set win over Southern Oregon inside the J.A. Albertson Activities Center.
With the 25-23, 25-18, 21-25, 25-19 win over SOU, the Lady Yotes (18-9, 13-6 CCC) clinched no worse than fourth-place in the league standings – setting up a possible return match-up between the teams in Caldwell on Nov. 8.
In a single setter rotation for the first time in weeks, the Yotes turned to Call, who responded with 50 assists, six kills and six digs in the victory.
C of I had to grind out a Set 1 win, as a Kelsy Weber ace gave the Raiders (14-11, 11-7) a 19-15 advantage.
Ashley Pagan responded with two kills and an ace, with a Call dump over for a point giving the Yotes their first lead since 3-2. Meehan took over from there smashing down the final three points for the hosts to close out the period.
Pagan was dominant in Set 2, recording five kills, including a pair of spikes in a six point run midway through the period to build a 19-12 C of I lead.
The Yotes looked to end the match in quick fashion, leading 20-16 in Set 3, but SOU answered by Taylor Ristvedt, who pounded four kills and added a block in an 8-0 run the forced a fourth frame.
In Set 4, consecutive
Jackie van Vliet blocks highlighted an 8-1 C of I run that broke a 15-15 tie, helping the Yotes complete a season sweep of their rivals.
Meehan added eight digs in the win, while Pagan had 15 kills and 11 digs.
Kilee Lopez led C of I with 28 digs, with
Cheyan Coburn adding 23.
Ristvedt had nine kills and six blocks; Emma Gasman had nine kills and three blocks; Lauren McGowne had 32 assists and 15 digs, with Ashlyn Flynn recording 21 digs for SOU.
C of I closes out the regular season next Saturday with a 7:45 p.m. match-up vs. Walla Walla.