NIC ROUNDUP: Cardinals open with two volleyball wins

* VOLLEYBALL

LIBERTY LAKE - Yang Yang had 19 kills and seven blocks as the North Idaho College volleyball team, ranked 12th in the NJCAA preseason poll, beat Carroll College, ranked No. 21 in the NAIA, 25-19, 20-25, 25-17, 24-26, 17-15 in their season opener at the Spokane Crossover at the HUB Sports Center on Friday.

"We're a lot further ahead of where we were at this time last year," second-year NIC coach Kandice Gregorak said. "Winning a five-game match at this point is a good thing. Our passing and defense could also get a lot better."

Kaitlyn Molloy, a transfer from Montana, had eight blocks and 20 digs and Brooklyn Bradbury had 37 assists and four aces for NIC against Carroll.

Later Friday, Marissa Verduci had 13 kills and four blocks as the Cardinals beat Warner Pacific 25-10, 25-23, 25-17.

"Offensively, we have some powerhouses," Gregorak said. "If we can pass and play defense, we won't have a problem winning games this year."

Bradbury had 19 assists for NIC (2-0), which faces Eastern Oregon today at noon at The Hub to wrap up play in the tourney.

"Brooklyn did a phenomenal job passing the ball today," Gregorak said. "She did a great job of running our offense. It was a very good start, but we need to stay consistent on serve-receive and continue to minimize our errors."

* WOMEN'S SOCCER

Salt Lake 2

ROCK SPRINGS, Wyo. - Sophomore Anna Valentine scored two second-half goals as the Cardinals beat the Bruins club team on the campus of Western Wyoming College.

"In some ways, yesterday's match was too easy," said NIC coach Dan Hogan, referring to the Cardinals' 4-0 victory over Western Wyoming on Thursday. "We came out a little lackadaisical in the first half and just had a better second half. In the first half, we were just standing around and letting the person with the ball do the most work."

Former Sandpoint standout Ellie Engel, a freshman, scored as a corner kick deflected off two heads to Engel, who hit the ball on her shin into the right side of the goal. Freshman Alyssa Allen, formerly of Lake City, scored in the 82nd minute for NIC (2-0), which faces Northwest College in the Cardinal Classic next Friday at 3 p.m.

"Overall, I think it was a good weekend," Hogan said. "To get to play two matches in two days, it was a good weekend to see how we play together."

First half - 1, SLCC, Gabby Valdez (unassisted), 14:00. 2, NIC, Ellie Engel (unassisted), 34:00. Second half - 3, NIC, Anna Valentine (unassisted), 60:00. 4, Alyssa Allen (unassisted), 82:00. 5, SLCC, Gabby Valdez (unassisted), 83:00. 6, NIC, Anna Valentine (Aubree Mercier), 88:00.

Shots on goal - NIC 11, SLCC 12.

Saves - NIC, Whittni Mundel 2, Alex Rodriguez 1, Hannah Slinkard 3; SLCC, Chelsea Stoudt 3.

* MEN'S SOCCER

Weber State club 1

ROCK SPRINGS, Wyo. - Mike Alexander scored on an assist from Chris Brunos in the 88th minute as the Wildcat club team beat the Cardinals on the campus of Western Wyoming College.

"We were a little more on the ball today," NIC coach Ken Thompson said. "We played like we had a game under our belts and weren't afraid to make mistakes."

Justin Johnson and Tanner Jones had one save each for NIC (0-2-0), which hosts Northwest College on Friday at 5:30 p.m. in the Cardinal Classic.

First half - none. Second half - 1, WS, Mike Alexander (Chris Brunos), 88:00.

Shots on goal - NIC 8, WB 14.

Saves - NIC, Justin Johnson 1, Tanner Jones 1; WB, Carson Elliott 3.