Cardinals split to conclude play at tourney

STERLING, Colo. - Leeta Grap had 11 kills and one block as the 16th-ranked North Idaho Cardinal volleyball team beat Seward County (Kan.) 25-21, 25-13, 25-11 on Saturday morning at the Pizza Hut Invitational on the campus of Northeastern Junior College.

Anyssa Matheson had nine kills and three blocks and Russia Robinson 10 digs and four aces for NIC (6-4).

"The athletes established themselves early in this match and kept their foot on the gas the entire match, which was an important step for our team to take this weekend," NIC coach Miles Kydd said.

Later, fourth-ranked Iowa Western defeated NIC 25-17, 25-23, 25-19.

"In the first two sets, we were in a position for the game to go either way," Kydd said. "But in both instances, Iowa Western did a better job of executing in crunch time. And that's OK at this point in that it gives us a good indication of where we need to improve - technically and tactically - as we head into a bye week. We have some time now to take care of a few things prior to heading into conference play in two weeks. I'm proud of how much our team has grown and we are all excited to get SWAC (Scenic West Athletic Conference) underway in two weeks."

Robinson had 15 digs, Larissa Claassen 10 kills and Grap six kills for NIC (7-5), which returns to action at Utah State-Eastern on Sept. 27.

"As a kid, I remember being asked in school, "Where do you see yourself when you are 25 years old?" Stangel said. "My answer? The Olympics. Plain and simple my whole entire life my dream was to be able to play in the Olympics and represent our country as a softball player."

Growing up, Shippy remembers watching USA stars such as Natasha Watley and Jennie Finch on TV.

"Speaking for most softball players, the Olympics is what you strive for," Shippy said. "I am very happy for wrestling that they will get the opportunity to compete in the 2020 Olympic Games, yet I still believe softball deserves to be there as well."

Stangel said her idols in the softball world came from the USA Olympic team - players like Cat Osterman, Laura Berg, Stacey Nuveman, and Dot Richardson.

"Seeing them gave me that spark, that feeling inside me making me want to work hard to be just like them," Stangel said.

FOOTBALL PLAYERS dream of the NFL. In baseball, it's the major leagues. Basketball, the NBA.

In softball, the Olympics are the pinnacle of that sport.

Stangel and Shippy will be a few years out of college when the 2020 Olympics roll around.

There's a National Pro Fastpitch league in the U.S. for those just out of college. There are also professional opportunities overseas.

But neither are the same as wearing the red, white and blue.

"I know that I want to play for the national team and that I want to become a college softball coach," Shippy said. "I believe God will guide me down the right path. If that path includes being asked to play professionally, I would be honored by the opportunity and play my heart out as long as I could. Either way, when playing softball is over for me, I will coach it and give back to the game for all it has given me."

Added Stangel:

"I will still work as hard as I can to be able to make the national team after college, and spend some time playing there before I pursue a career outside of playing," she said. "As great as the NPF is, it does not allow softball players to make a living off of our sport like the MLB or NFL does with their players. It does not make me want to shy away from playing after college, but I can guarantee it will make many other players reevaluate playing after college."

Still, if it works out, it'd be kind of cool to tune in and watch the Olympics in a few years, and see a former Lake City pitcher in the circle, and another former T-Wolf behind her, at second base.

That's what dreams are made of.

Mark Nelke is sports editor of The Press. He can be reached at 664-8176, Ext. 2019, or via email at mnelke@cdapress.com. Follow him on Twitter at CdAPressSports.