NIC ROUNDUP: Nationals-bound Cards fall to CSI for Region 18 title
* VOLLEYBALL
TWIN FALLS - Keani Passi and Liene Mellupe had 16 kills each as the top-seeded and third-ranked Southern Idaho Golden Eagles beat the third-seeded and eighth-ranked North Idaho College Cardinals 25-19, 25-18, 25-16 in the championship game of the Region 18 volleyball tournament Saturday.
Both teams had already qualified for the NJCAA tournament Nov. 15-17 in West Plains, Mo., after winning semifinal matches Friday.
Yang Yang had 13 kills and 12 digs, Brooklynn Bradbury 13 assists, Kaitlyn Molloy seven kills and six digs, Leeta Grap six digs and Rosie Robinson 10 digs for NIC (22-5).
"The girls had a great start and played great this weekend," NIC coach Kandice Gregorak said. "Yang and Kaitlyn were unstoppable this weekend. Leeta did a fantastic job as well and played a huge role in our success."
CSI improves to 29-1.
ALL-REGION 18 TOURNAMENT TEAM
Most Valuable Player - Liene Mellupe, Southern Idaho.
Keani Passi, Southern Idaho; Yang Yang, North Idaho; Kaitlyn Molloy, North Idaho; Mayra Ramirez, Salt Lake; Brenna DeYoung, Snow.
* WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
North Idaho 83
N.I. All Stars 74
COEUR d'ALENE - Sophomore guard Katie Buskey scored 17 points as the third-ranked Cardinals beat the North Idaho All-Star team 83-74 in their regular season opener Saturday night at Rolly Williams Court.
Former Lake City High standout Lindsay Herbert scored 29 points for the All-Stars. Former Gonzaga standout Heather Bowman added 21.
Montana State-Billings transfer Kabri Emerson had 15 points and six rebounds for NIC, which travels to Williston State on Thursday.
NORTH IDAHO ALL STARS
Lindsay Herbert 9-16 8-8 29, Tasha Harris 2-12 5-5 10, Angie Gatten 2-11 2-2 6, Heather Bowman 8-15 5-6 21, Crystal Gladson 4-7 0-2 8, Mandy Jacques 0-0 0-0 0, Genna Rucker 0-0 0-0 0, Jenna Griffitts-Legat 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 25-61 20-23 74.
NORTH IDAHO
Katie Buskey 7-13 2-3 17, Kabri Emerson 6-8 2-3 15, Georgia Stirton 3-5 2-3 9, Danika Johnson 2-3 0-0 4, Angela Woods 2-7 0-0 4, Jansen Butler 2-4 0-0 6, Tori Davenport 1-2 2-2 5, Aimee Durbidge 1-3 3-4 5, Renae Mokrzycki 1-1 0-0 2, Mollie Kramer 3-3 0-0 8, Hannah Love 3-6 0-1 6, Maggie Kirscher 1-1 0-0 2.
Halftime - unknown. 3-point goals - NICAS 4-14 (Herbert 3-6, Harris 1-2, Gatten 0-6), NIC 8-21 (Buskey 1-5, Emerson 1-1, Stirton 1-2, Woods 0-4, Butler 2-4, Davenport 1-2, Durbidge 0-1, Kramer 2-2). Rebounds - NICAS 33 (Bowman 10), NIC 35 (Woods 7). Assists - NICAS 15 (Herbert, Harris, Gatten 4), NIC 19 (Woods 5). Team fouls - NICAS 11, NIC 15. Fouled out - none.
* MEN'S SOCCER
Western Wyoming 2
Northwest College 1
CHEYENNE, Wyo. - The Mustangs of Rock Springs, Wyo., defeated the Trappers of Powell, Wyo., in the championship match to advance to the NJCAA tournament Nov. 12-17 in Albany, Ga.
Western Wyoming defeated North Idaho College 3-1 in a semifinal match on Friday.
* WOMEN'S SOCCER
Laramie County 3
Otero 0
POWELL, Wyo. - The Golden Eagles, ranked 10th in the NJCAA, defeated the Rattlers of La Junta, Colo., in the District C championship to advance to the NJCAA tournament Nov. 12-17 in Melbourne, Fla.
Laramie County (13-2-0) defeated NIC 2-1 in a semifinal match Friday.
Otero finishes 15-2-0.