PREVIEW: CCC Volleyball Tournament Quarterfinals Presented by U.S. Bank

11/5/2018 9:21:50 AM

LA GRANDE, Ore. – After a wild ending to the 2018 regular season, the field has officially been set for the 2018 Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) Volleyball Tournament presented by U.S. Bank. The tournament slate is scheduled to kick-off tomorrow with a pair of quarterfinal bouts between No. 3-seeded College of Idaho and No. 6-seeded Evergreen, as well as No. 4-seeded Corban and No. 5-seeded Northwest.

For an in-depth look at tournament match-ups and results, follow along at TOURNAMENT CENTRAL.

#3 College of Idaho vs. #6 Evergeen

In a clash between a long-time CCC volleyball heavyweight and one of the conference’s most exciting stories of the year, College of Idaho will host the Evergreen Geoducks in what promises to be a thrilling match-up in Caldwell, Idaho.

Liz Mendiola, now in her 18^th year at the helm, leads the No. 16-ranked Yotes, who feature possibly the CCC’s most experienced playoff roster. Highlighted by its elite attacking trio of Ashley Pagan (3.75 kills per set), Taylor Alexander (3.28 kills per set), and Jackie Van Vliet (2.93 kills per set, 1.16 blocks per set), College of Idaho has retained many of the key pieces that have made it a staple atop the CCC standings in recent years.

Evergreen, making the team’s second-ever playoff appearance and first in 15 years, has been one of the conference’s most exciting storylines during the 2018 season. On the attacking end, Chloee Hunt (.247 attack percentage) and Natalie Taylor (3.09 kills per set) have been the Geoducks’ main offensive weapons throughout the fall campaign, with Sierra Wolff (8.86 assists per set) establishing herself as one of the CCC’s top setters. When Evergreen’s top contributors catch fire, the team has proven itself capable of standing toe-to-toe with any team it faces.

During the 2018 campaign, the Yotes claimed a season sweep of the Geoducks, defeating Evergreen in straight sets in each of the two matches.  

#4 Corban vs. #5 Northwest

Though last year’s winner of the CCC Tournament, this year’s Corban squad will look almost entirely different while hosting a Northwest team that claimed victories over both College of Idaho and No. 1-seeded Southern Oregon during the 2018 season.

The 2017 CCC Tournament champions, No. 22-ranked Corban looks to defend its tournament title with an almost completely different 2018 roster. The Warriors’ new look is arguably as dangerous as ever, however, spearheaded by Demi Winters (.305 attack percentage, 0.88 blocks per set), Adriana Aguayo (3.00 kills per set), and Avari Ridgway (2.14 kills per set).

Northwest, led by Steve Bain in his seventh season, has been brilliant at times throughout the 2018 season, combining relentless offense and a strong blocking presence to defeat some of the CCC’s best. Featuring attackers Sarah Warner (2.59 kills per set, .246 attack percentage) and Keann White (2.31 kills per set, .274 attack percentage), as well as the CCC’s leader in total blocks in Audrey Saelens (127), it’s no wonder the Eagles have claimed victories over both Southern Oregon and College of Idaho during the 2018 slate.  

The Warriors took both contests during the season series, winning each match in four sets.

Below is a complete look at the upcoming CCC Volleyball Tournament schedule (all times Pacific unless otherwise noted).

Tuesday, November 6 (Quarterfinals) 
Site: Campus sites seeds # 3 and #4
Seed # 3 CI vs. Seed # 6 TESC (7 p.m. MST)
Seed # 4 CRB vs. Seed # 5 NU (7 p.m.)

Friday, November 9 (Semifinals) – Ashland, Ore.
Seed #2 EOU vs. highest remaining seed (3:30 p.m.)
Seed #1 SOU vs. lowest remaining seed (7 p.m.)

Saturday, November 10 (Championship) – Ashland, Ore.
Winners of semifinal matches (7 p.m.)