NJCAA VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT: A familiar face in opener

They met on the opening weekend of the season.

Now, it’s for something a lot bigger.

The North Idaho College volleyball team (20-14) opens the NJCAA tournament today against Missouri State-West Plains (25-9) at 10 a.m. (PST) at the Casper Events Center.

NIC is the 10th seed, with Missouri State-West Plains seventh.

In the previous match, Missouri State-West Plains won in five sets 25-12, 21-25, 25-15, 21-25, 15-8 at the Salt Lake tournament in September.

“It does help with the nerves a little bit,” second-year NIC coach Kelsey Stanley said. “We played the team the first weekend, and we’re a completely different team now than we were then. And so are they. I’m excited to see how they are and excited to play them again.”

NIC was without starting libero Hannah Christanson for that match.

The Cardinals have played four teams that have advanced to nationals — Missouri State-West Plains, Western Nebraska, Northwest (Wyo.) College and Southern Idaho — owning wins over CSI and two five set losses.

“We’re in the toughest conference in the nation in the Scenic West Athletic Conference, so we’re prepared,” Stanley said. “Playing in that just preps us more for nationals. We’re excited to have this experience. I’ve told our kids to go out and have fun and whatever happens, happens.”

NIC has won seven of eight matches entering today’s round.

“We’ve finally started to hit our peak,” Stanley said. “It’s been fun to watch them play the best they’ve ever played.”

In other opening round matches, defending champion Blinn opens the tournament against the College of Coastal Florida and SWAC rival Southern Idaho (31-3), the tournament’s top seed, opens with Frank Phillips at noon.

CSI won the NJCAA title in 2012, with players from NIC rooting them on.

“When we got to practice on Wednesday, they were just getting done and they came over and gave us a high five,” Stanley said. “They’re on the other side of the bracket, so it’s nice we won’t see them until the championship, so it makes it easier to root them on as well.”