NIC VOLLEYBALL: Cardinals fall to ranked foes

SALT LAKE CITY - Brenna Meehan had 32 kills on the day for the North Idaho College volleyball team, which fell in a pair of five-set matches to open the Crystal Inn Invitational on Friday on the campus of Salt Lake Community College.

NIC lost to Missouri State-West Plains, ranked sixth in this week's NJCAA poll, 25-12, 21-25, 25-15, 25-21, 15-8, then fell 23-25, 25-17, 19-25, 25-11, 15-11 to ninth-ranked Western Nebraska.

Against Missouri-West Plains, Brittany Gay had 45 assists, Meehan 15 digs, Jadan Ross 14 digs and Matilda Altin 25 blocks for NIC.

Penny Gwynn had 17 kills, Gay 54 assists, Ross 15 digs and Brooke Bell three blocks against Western Nebraska.

NIC (7-4) concludes tournament play against Northwest College and Casper College today in Salt Lake City.