NIC downs CSI in five, qualifies for nationals

SALT LAKE CITY - Third-seeded North Idaho College beat defending national champion and second-seeded Southern Idaho 26-24, 25-16, 18-25, 19-25, 15-7 on Friday in the semifinals of the Region 18 tournament to qualify for the NJCAA tournament Nov. 22-23 in Casper, Wyo.

Larissa Claassen had 21 kills and 19 digs, Leeta Grap 17 kills and 19 digs, former Post Falls High standout Allison Meehan 50 assists and Russia Robinson 24 digs for North Idaho College (16-10), which faces Salt Lake at noon today in the championship match for seeding to nationals. Salt Lake (23-6) beat Snow College on Friday, 25-12, 26-24, 25-20.

NIC coach Miles Kydd said Cardinals middle hitter Britney Chilcott had a key block of CSI's top hitter Mercedes Vaughan in the fifth game as NIC jumped out to an 8-3 lead.

"It wasn't like we played out of our minds," Kydd said. "But we were efficient. They (CSI) were fired up after the first two games, we were trying not to lose."

Pati Anae had 12 kills and Lepeka Kalulu-Sugal 17 digs for Southern Idaho, which finishes 20-10.

Robinson was named libero of the year and was a first team all-Scenic West Athletic Conference member. Anyssa Matheson and Grap were both named to the second team and Claassen was named honorable mention.

Earlier, Claassen had 13 kills and six digs as the Cardinals eliminated sixth-seeded Colorado Northwestern 25-13, 25-6, 25-6. Grap had eight kills and 11 digs and Anyssa Matheson five kills for NIC against Colorado Northwestern, which finishes 3-27.

In other tournament play, Snow College beat Utah State-Eastern (6-20) in four games to advance to play Salt Lake.

REGION 18 VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT

at Salt Lake Community College

Time PST

Friday

North Idaho d. Colorado Northwestern 25-13, 25-6, 25-6

Snow d. Utah State-Eastern 3-1

North Idaho d. Southern Idaho 26-24, 25-16, 18-25, 19-25, 15-7 (winner to nationals)

No. 1 Salt Lake d.No. 4 Snow (18-9) 25-12, 26-24, 25-20 (winner to nationals)

Saturday

Match 5 - No. 1 Salt Lake vs. No. 3 North Idaho (16-10), noon (winner to nationals as District A champion, loser will be District B representative to nationals)