NIC wins opener, then falls in quarterfinals

WEST PLAINS, Mo. - The sixth- seeded North Idaho Cardinals could not capture the momentum of an earlier win as they fell out of national title contention in a 17-25, 27-25, 25-23, 25-20 loss to San Jacinto of Houston on Thursday at the NJCAA tournament at Missouri State University.

"It was a tough loss for us," NIC coach Colleen Frohlich said. "I thought we came out with a lot of desire and steam, but we backed off a little bit and couldn't get it back."

Tina Strahinic had 21 kills and 15 digs, Fei Gao added 16 kills and 14 digs, Kyona Hunt 22 digs, Kaylee Ponce 11 kills and Danielle Hodge had 11 kills for NIC.

"Danielle did what we needed her to do today," Frohlich said. "Our passing broke down in the second game and we became predictable. We were up in the second game and they came back to win. Had we won that, the match may have changed a little bit. They were a big, physical team and just kept coming back at us."

NIC (27-7) can finish no higher than fifth and faces No. 10 seed Eastern Arizona today at 12:30 p.m.

Earlier on Thursday, NIC defeated 11th seeded Iowa Western in three games 25-23, 25-17, 25-11 to open the tournament on Thursday morning.

"We came out a little nervous in the first match," Frohlich said. "We settled into it and controlled the entire match. Our setters did a great job of passing to our hitters and getting us in the right spots."

Stats from the first match were unavailable.

Salt Lake, the District B representative out of the Scenic West Athletic Conference, defeated Midland College 25-12, 19-25, 24-26, 25-22, 15-8 and top-seeded Miami Dade 31-29, 25-22, 25-15 to advance to today's national semifinals.

Volleyball tournament

At Missouri State University

West Plains, Mo.

Thursday

Match 1 - No. 3 San Jacinto d. No. 14 Jefferson College 25-11, 25-13, 23-25, 22-25, 15-5.

Match 2 - No. 6 North Idaho d. No. 11 Iowa Western 25-23, 25-17, 25-11.

Match 3 - No. 10 Eastern Arizona d. No. 7 Florida State-Jacksonville 25-21, 25-20, 25-19.

Match 4 - No. 2 Western Wyoming d. No. 15 Barton County 25-22, 25-23, 25-20.

Match 5 - No. 1 Miami Dade d. No. 16 Gadsden State 25-11, 25-12, 25-17.

Match 6 - No. 8 Salt Lake d. No. 9 Midland College 25-12, 19-25, 24-26, 25-22, 15-8.

Match 7 - No. 5 Blinn College d. No. 12 Temple College 16-25, 25-23, 25-14, 25-17.

Match 8 - No. 4 Western Nebraska d. No. 13 Wallace State 25-16, 25-19, 25-14.

Match 9 - No. 3 San Jacinto d. No. 6 North Idaho 17-25, 27-25, 25-23, 25-20.

Match 10 - No. 2 Western Wyoming d. No. 10 Eastern Arizona 25-18, 26-24, 25-22.

Match 11 - No. 8 Salt Lake d. No. 1 Miami Dade 31-29, 25-22, 25-15.

Match 12 - No. 4 Western Nebraska d. No. 5 Blinn College 25-22, 25-21, 25-21.

Friday

Times PST

Match 13 - No. 14 Jefferson College (21-11) vs. No. 11 Iowa Western (42-7), 8 a.m. (loser out)

Match 14 - No. 7 Florida State-Jacksonville vs. No. 15 Barton County (25-9), 8 a.m. (loser out)

Match 15 - No. 16 Gadsden State (29-10) vs. Midland (33-6), 10 a.m. (loser out)

Match 16 - No. 12 Temple College (25-12) vs. No. 13 Wallace State (53-2), 10 a.m. (loser out)

Match 17 - No. 6 North Idaho (27-7) vs. No. 10 Eastern Arizona (31-5), 12:30 p.m.

Match 18 - No. 1 Miami Dade (34-1) vs. No. 5 Blinn College (31-6), 12:30 p.m.

Match 19 - Match 13 winner vs. Match 14 winner, 2:30 p.m.

Match 20 - Match 15 winner vs. Match 16 winner, 2:30 p.m.

Match 21 - No. 3 San Jacinto (28-9) vs. No. 2 Western Wyoming (39-5), 4:30 p.m. (national semifinals)

Match 22 - No. 8 Salt Lake (28-6) vs. No. 4 Western Nebraska (41-4) 4:30 p.m. (national semifinals)

NOTE: Matches can be seen live and accessed via archive once the tournament begins at www.njcaa.org/tv and www.psblive.com.