CORVALLIS, Ore. – The No. 4-ranked College of Idaho volleyball team has been named the Cascade Collegiate Conference Team of the Week after extending its season-opening winning streak to 13 matches with a pair of conference victories.
The Yotes opened the weekend with a five-set comeback against Corban, winning 20-25, 26-24, 23-25, 25-19, 15-13 before sweeping Bushnell, 25-23, 25-19, 25-12. The two victories moved College of Idaho to 13-0 overall and 6-0 in CCC play.
Against Corban, the Yotes rallied from a 24-20 deficit in the second set, scoring the final six points to even the match. College of Idaho then overcame an early 6-1 deficit in the fourth set before forcing a fifth, where three consecutive blocks helped the Yotes take control late. Jessica Stires led the attack with 22 kills while hitting .372, while Abigail Flerchinger added 14 kills at a .333 clip and a match-high five blocks. Shaynee McWilliams recorded 57 assists and 17 digs, and Avery Lewis added 17 digs.
College of Idaho carried the momentum into Saturday's sweep of Bushnell, overcoming a late seven-point run by the Beacons in the opening set before controlling the final two sets. The Yotes hit .263 for the match and .355 in the third set.
McWilliams finished the sweep with 34 assists, 12 digs, three aces and four kills. Kelsy Stanger paced the attack with 10 kills while hitting .389, while Alexa Wheeler added eight kills and a team-high four blocks. Lewis recorded 17 digs.
The 13-0 start marks College of Idaho's best opening to a season since 2017, when the Yotes began the year 9-0 and advanced to the NAIA National Quarterfinals.