Lady Yotes Sweep Evergreen, Advance to CCC Semifinals
CALDWELL, Idaho – A dominant performance by Taylor Alexander led No. 16-ranked College of Idaho to a three-set victory over the Evergreen State College in the quarterfinals of the Cascade Conference Championships, presented by U.S. Bank, inside the J.A. Albertson Activities Center.
Alexander had 16 kills in just 26 swings, leading the Lady Yotes (22-7) to a 25-15, 25-20, 25-22 victory – spoiling the Geoducks first postseason appearance since 2003.
C of I advances to the tournament final site in Ashland, Ore., meeting 12th-ranked Eastern Oregon at 3:30 p.m. (PT) on Friday.
The Yotes broke open a tight opening set with an 8-2 run, with Alexander blasting three kills in the push, as C of I built a 17-9 lead – hitting .478 in the set victory.
Evergreen (12-18) battled back from a 15-10 deficit in Set 2, as a Lehaulani Keka kill pulled the visitors within 16-15. C of I used a three-point run late – including the fourth ace of the night from Ashley Pagan – to break away from a 20-18 margin and win the set.
Set 3 was full of runs – as the Geoducks rode the service game of Alexis Garrison – running off an 11-2 run to take a 17-11 lead. C of I didn't falter, as Zuri Meehan served up seven-straight points – including three Alexander kills – to regain the lead. Leading 20-19, C of I scored four of the next five points – including a block from Pagan and van Vliet – to put the match away.
Pagan ended the night with 10 kills and seven digs, with Mali Sawyer adding six kills. Marjia Djonovic had 22 assists and Drew Dobney recorded 14 digs to lead C of I.
Natalie Taylor had seven of her 13 kills in Set 1, with Chloee Hunt adding seven kills. Sierra Wolff led all players with 28 assists, with Emma Goodman recording five digs to lead the TESC defense.