NIC volleyball team wins twice at tourney

SPOKANE - Freshman Danielle Hodge had 10 kills in the first match and five aces in the second as the North Idaho College volleyball team opened with a pair of victories Friday at the Inland Northwest Communications Tournament at Spokane Falls Community College.

NIC defeated Treasure Valley Community College (Ontario, Ore.) 25-13, 25-16, 27-25 and Big Bend Community College (Moses Lake) 25-15, 25-12, 25-22.

"I was happy that we were able to establish our middles more," NIC coach Colleen Frohlich said, referring to Hodge, Janele Vogt and Esther Timofeyev.

Brenna Peterson had 16 assists in the first match, 18 in the second for NIC (7-4). Spencer Smiley had 10 digs vs. TVCC. Against Big Bend, Tina Strahinic had 16 kills, Kyona Hunt eight digs.

Fei Gao, a returning NJCAA honorable mention All-American who missed last weekend's tournament at Salt Lake with a leg injury, saw action in the second match Friday for NIC.

NIC plays Mount Hood Community College (Gresham, Ore.) today at 9 a.m. to wrap up pool play, then enters bracket play. The championship match is scheduled for 3 p.m.