C of I Prevails in Four Over Northwest
KIRKLAND, Wash. – Northwest University battled the College of Idaho, but C of I defeated NU 3-1 (28-26, 15-25, 25-17, 25-21) to open league play tonight.
The teams traded points with seven ties early in the first set, but with the set tied at 12-all, Northwest would outscore the Yotes 5-0 to take a 17-12 lead. C of I would chip away at the Eagle lead and Sofia Anxo’s kill would knot the score at 19-19. Northwest would regain the lead 22-19 on a Arika Zwack kill and two C of I attack errors. With NU up 23-20, the Yotes would score three straight kills by Liz Myers, Kylee Nawahine and Torrey Hulsey to tie it once again. The set would be tied three more times before kills by Nawahine and Jessica Peacock would break a 26-26 tie for the set win.
Northwest would rebound in the second set and break out to a 19-9 lead aided by C of I miscues. Rae Ann Haistings would make it 17-9 and two C of I attack errors would give the Eagles the 10 point lead. Northwest would maintain the lead the remainder of the set as The Eagles would take the second set, 25-15
Two straight kills by Liz Myers in the third set would give the Yotes a 12-6 lead. NU would pull to within four several times, but Hulsey would be involved in the final four points of the set to help earn the win for C of I.
The final set would see 12 ties early with the final tie at 13-all before the College of Idaho would go on an 8-1 run which included three straight kills by Kylee Nawahine. A Beanna Covey kills and C of I miscue would make it 23-20, but a kill by Torrey Hulsey would win the set and match for the Yotes from Caldwell, Idaho.
Breanna Covey led Northwest (2-4, 0-1 CCC) with 11 kills and Olivia VanDlac added 9 kills and 11 digs for the Eagles. Heather Shulke had a match high 36 digs, while freshman Ashton Arbuthnot had 18 assists and 10 digs for NU.
Kylee Nawahine led College of Idaho (4-4, 1-0 CCC) with 11 kills and 16 digs. Torrey Hulsey and Jessica Peacock each added 10 kills and Peacock added 13 digs. Janel Porter led the team with 22 digs and Sierra Porter had a match high 24 assists.
First year Northwest U. coach, Steven Bain said after the match, “The outcome wasn’t what we wanted but I was pleased with our effort and intensity. We just need to continue to work hard and stay focused on the details that will increase our success on the court. If we do the little things better, the scoreboard will take care of itself.”
Both teams resume CCC play tomorrow night as Northwest hosts Eastern Oregon and the College of Idaho travels to Olympia, Wash., to take on the Geoducks of Evergreen. Both matches are scheduled for 7 p.m.