Cards open with 2 losses at tourney

SALT LAKE CITY - For a season opener and first match as North Idaho College volleyball coach, Kelsey Stanley was pleased despite the Cardinals' five-game loss to seventh-ranked (NJCAA) Western Nebraska in the Crystal Innvitational on Friday at Salt Lake Community College.

In the second match of the day, NIC let one slip away in a four-game loss against 12th-ranked Missouri State-West Plains.

Brittany Aldridge had 12 kills and two aces for the Cardinals in a 25-23, 21-25, 22-25, 25-22, 15-6 loss to Western Nebraska.

"I was very happy with how the girls played," Stanley said. "We were behind six (points) in the games we won and came back, which was nice to see that they've got that in them to come back and beat a good team."

Brenna Meehan had 15 digs and six kills, Kennedy Chadwick 26 digs and Maddi Seidl 41 assists for NIC against Western Wyoming.

Aldridge had 13 kills and 14 digs, Seidl 29 assists and Chadwick 19 digs for NIC (0-2) in a four-set loss to Missouri State-West Plains.

"It was a game where we should have started better early," Stanley said. "We didn't come out ready to play."

NIC concludes the tournament today against fourth-ranked Arizona Western and sixth-ranked Western Wyoming.

"This tournament is an awesome tournament," Stanley said. "Tomorrow (Saturday) is going to be another hard day for us. We're still trying to know our jobs and places on the court. Overall, I was very happy with how the day went."