NIC ROUNDUP: Cards finish 8th at NJCAAs in volleyball
WEST PLAINS, Mo. - Returning only three starters off last year's ninth-place finisher at the NJCAA tournament, the seventh-seeded North Idaho College volleyball team took a step in the right direction in 2012.
NIC, which was ranked in the top 10 of the NJCAA poll for most of the season, lost in three sets to No. 8 seeded Hillsborough (Fla.) 25-23, 25-20, 29-27 in the 7th/8th place match at the NJCAA tournament on Saturday.
"We had a phenomenal season," NIC coach Kandice Gregorak said. "We went through a lot this year and thank god we got Kaitlyn (Molloy). Usually, you have more than three returners and you've got to stick together. For not having too many back, it was pretty phenomenal how we did. Heck, eighth in the nation - I'm extremely happy."
Sophomore Yang Yang had 20 kills, 21 digs and four blocks, Allison Meehan 19 assists and Rosie Robinson three aces and 23 digs for NIC, which finished 23-8.
"They just put more balls away today," Gregorak said. "Our defense was phenomenal, but they fronted our middles (Shelby Lausen and Kaitlyn Molloy) and dedicated to stopping our blocks. We fought hard and never gave up, which was good to see."
Yang, who was selected to the all-tournament team, is one of four sophomores on the team.
"I really appreciate these girls for sticking with us and working as hard as they could," Gregorak said. "Having to replace a setter before the season started, they were a good group of kids and that's all you can ask for."
Keani Passi of Southern Idaho was named tournament MVP after CSI (33-1) defeated second-seeded Western Nebraska 25-20, 25-21, 25-20 to win its 10th national title in school history. Golden Eagles coach Heidi Cartisser was named coach of the tournament.
NIC wins twice
at Cardinal Duals
COEUR d'ALENE - Jeremy Golding won by major decision twice and sophomore Kyle Sweedman by decision twice for the top-ranked (NJCAA) Cardinals in wins against Highline and Simon Fraser in the Cardinal Duals on Saturday.
Freshman Nico Moreno won by pin against Highline and decision against Simon Fraser for NIC (2-1), which competes in The HUB Open today in Liberty Lake.
"It was two really good duals for us," NIC coach Pat Whitcomb said. "Both (Jeremy) Golding and (Nico) Moreno have really wrestled well and had two solid matches against two really tough kids."
NORTH IDAHO 29, HIGHLAND 18
125 - Brock Banta, NIC, by forfeit. 133 - Brandon Leach, High, p. Blake Adams, 3:43. 141 - Jarrett Morrill, NIC, md. Max Welsh, 10-1. 149 - Jeremy Golding, NIC, md. John Hedge, 10-1. 157 - Nicholas Moreno, NIC, p. Lonnie Hurley, 2:20. 165 - Kario Wallin, High, d. Connor Pelzel, 5-1. 174 - Kyle Sweedman, NIC, d. Cole Schwartz, 8-1. 184 - Lucas Huyber, HCC, d. Caleb Rivera, 10-8. 197 - Ben Tynan, High, d. Guiseppe Dippolito, 2:20. 285 - Bryan Smith, NIC, p. Michael Henry, 3:47.
NORTH IDAHO 25, SIMON FRASER 15
125 - Brock Banta, NIC, d. Skylor Davis, 10-4. 133 - Sukhan Chahal, SF, d. Blake Adams, 9-4. 141 - Jarrett Morrill, NIC, d. Dillon Hume, 2:56. 149 - Jeremy Golding, NIC, md. Alex Stemer, 13-4. 157 - Nicholas Moreno, NIC, d. Josh Punzo, 1:41. 165 - Brock Lamb, SF, d. Connor Pelzel, 6-3 174 - Kyle Sweedman, NIC, d. Cody Coombes, 13-6. 184 - Manvir Sahota, SF, d. Caleb Rivera, 10-7. 197 - Guiseppe Dippolito, NIC, d. Ryan Yewchin, 7-4. 285 - Sunny Dhinsa, SF, p. Bryan Smith, 4:49.