NIC VOLLEYBALL: Cards win tourney opener

TACOMA — Julie Staffler had 15 kills and 17 digs for North Idaho College in a 25-12, 25-23, 25-12 win over Pierce College in the opening round of the Northwest Athletic Conference tournament at the Tacoma Convention Center on Thursday.

“We have changed our lineup in the last week and it showed today that it worked,” NIC coach Kelsey Stanley said. “Pierce is a very scrappy team and didn’t back down.”

Brooke Bell had 10 kills, Zuri Meehan 19 digs and former Lake City High standout Brittany Gay 38 assists and 10 digs for NIC (20-12), which faces Linn-Benton (40-0) today at 12:30 p.m. in a quarterfinal match. Linn-Benton, the No. 1 team from the South Region, swept Edmonds 25-19, 25-20, 25-20 in its tournament opener.

Katielynn Piles had eight kills and 13 digs and Allie Bauer had 27 assists and 13 digs for Pierce (15-20) of Lakewood, Wash., which was eliminated later on Thursday by Edmonds.