Pagan Leads Lady Yotes to 5-Set Win Over NW Christian
CALDWELL, Idaho – An epic night from Ashley Pagan allowed the College of Idaho to outlast Northwest Christian in five sets inside the J.A. Albertson Activities Center.
Pagan had 22 kills and 31 digs in the 21-25, 25-18, 25-15, 23-25, 15-12 victory – as the No. 16 ranked Lady Yotes (18-7, 13-4 CCC) remained perfect all-time against NCU at home.
The 31 digs by the junior outside hitter marked the most by a non-defensive specialist/libero in the rally-scoring era and the most by a C of I six-rotation player since Brecia Gamett in 2000. It was Pagan's third 20-20 match of the season and the fourth of her career.
The Beacons (11-14, 4-12) erased an 18-15 deficit in Set 4, getting a pair of Megan Van Marter blocks late in the period, to force a winner-take-all final frame. In Set 5, four Jackie van Vliet kills and a pair from Pagan gave the Yotes match-point at 14-9. However, a rotation error gave NCU a side out and consecutive C of I hitting errors pulled the visitors within 14-12, but Pagan buried her 52nd swing of the night to end the contest.
NCU controlled the first set, forcing eight C of I hitting errors with a big block presence, to grab the early match lead. The hosts answered, getting four kills from freshman Austyn Mauzy in Set 2 to even the match and followed with a 12-3 start to Set 3 to cruise to a victory – before the back-and-forth finish.
Taylor Alexander had 16 kills and van Vliet added 14 in the victory, with Mauzy recording a career-high 10 kills. Marija Djonovic had 54 assists and Drew Dobney had a career-high 30 digs in the victory, which saw middle blocker Kaydre Thompson make her season debut – adding two kills, two digs and two blocks off the bench.
Claire Salness led the Beacons with 14 kills and 14 digs, with Mary Grace Blaser recording 11 kills and 12 digs.
C of I closes out their regular-season home schedule tomorrow night with a 7 p.m. match vs. Corban. The Yotes will honor their five senior student-athletes in a pre-match ceremony.