Cardinals make quick exit from NWAC tourney

TACOMA, Wash. — North Idaho College entered the Northwest Athletic Conference volleyball tournament by winning its last 14 matches and posting a 16-0 record in conference play.

But the East Region champions Cardinals shockingly went two-and-out in the conference tournament, losing to Tacoma and Bellevue on Thursday at the Greater Tacoma Convention Center. NIC finished 27-5.

Tacoma d. North Idaho 25-11, 24-26, 25-19, 25-21: Journey Tupea had 15 kills and 13 digs for the Cardinals in a loss to the Titans (16-11) in an opening round match.

Chloe Knudson had 11 kills and 13 digs, Kynzey Mitzel 20 digs, Hokulea Vargas 39 assists and three blocks for NIC.

Kate Pestova had 29 kills for Tacoma, the fourth seed from the West Region.

Bellevue d. NIC 25-16, 17-25, 17-15: Knudson had nine kills and eight digs for the Cardinals in a loss to the Bulldogs (25-12) in a loser-out match. Consolation matches in the tournament are the best-of-3 sets.

Hokulea Vargas had 18 digs and six digs for NIC. Zaiah Luna-Calvin had 13 kills for Bellevue (25-12).

- NIC coach Kelsey Stanley was named East Region Coach of the Year, the conference announced Thursday.

Freshman Journey Tupea and sophomore Chloe Knudson were named to the first team for NIC. Freshman Hokulea Vargas and sophomore Kynzey Mitzel were named to the second team.

NORTHWEST ATHLETIC CONFERENCE VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT

At The Greater Tacoma Convention Center

Thursday’s matches

Whatcom d. Mt. Hood 25-22, 25-19, 25-18

Spokane d. Lower Columbia 25-18, 25-20, 26-24

Treasure Valley d. Highline 25-20, 23-25, 25-19, 29-27

Rogue d. Skagit Valley 25-20, 25-15, 25-16

Pierce d. Walla Walla 25-18, 26-24, 25-21

Edmonds d. Linn-Benton 21-25, 25-20, 17-25, 27-25, 15-11

Lane d. Bellevue 25-18, 25-21, 25-17

Tacoma d. North Idaho 25-11, 24-26, 25-19, 25-21

Lower Columbia d. Mt. Hood 25-21, 25-21 (Mt. Hood out)

Highline d. Skagit Valley 25-19, 22-25, 15-8 (Skagit Valley out)

Linn-Benton d. Walla Walla 25-14, 25-23 (Walla Walla out)

Bellevue d. North Idaho 25-16, 17-25, 17-15 (North Idaho out)

Friday’s matches

Match 13 — Whatcom (21-8) vs. Spokane (32-2), 10 a.m.

Match 14 — Treasure Valley (22-14) vs. Rogue (27-3), 10

Match 15 — Pierce (34-2) vs. Edmonds (28-12), 12:30 p.m.

Match 16 — Lane (24-9) vs. Tacoma (16-11), 12:30

Match 17 — Linn-Benton (28-11) vs. Loser Match 14, 3 (loser out)

Match 18 — Bellevue (25-12) vs. Loser Match 13, 3 (loser out)

Match 19 — Lower Columbia (25-14) vs. Loser Match 16, 4:45 (loser out)

Match 20 — Highline (19-6) vs. Loser Match 15, 4:45

Match 21 — Winner Match 13 vs. Winner Match 14, 6:30

Match 22 — Winner Match 15 vs. Winner Match 16, 6:30

Saturday’s matches

Match 23 — Winner Match 19 vs. Winner Match 20, 10 a.m. (loser out)

Match 24 — Winner Match 17 vs. Winner Match 18, 10 (loser out)

Match 25 — Winner Match 23 vs. Loser Match 21, 11:45 (loser out)

Match 26 — Winner Match 24 vs. Loser Match 22, 11:45 (loser out)

Match 27 — Winner Match 21 vs. Winner Match 22, 1:30 p.m. (semifinal)

Match 28 — Winner Match 25 vs. Winner Match 26, 1:30 (loser fourth)

Match 29 — Winner Match 28 vs. Loser Match 29, 4;30 (loser third)

Sunday’s matches

Match 30 — Winner Match 27 vs. Winner Match 29, 2 p.m. (championship match)

Match 31 — Loser Match 30 vs. Winner Match 30, 4:30 (if-necessary match)

ALL-EAST REGION TEAM

Most Valuable Player — Lindsey Russell, so., Spokane

Coach of the Year — Kelsey Stanley, North Idaho

First team

Journey Tupea, fr., North Idaho; Jessica Whiteley, so., Treasure Valley; McKenna Russell, so., Spokane; Tia Takasaki, so., Walla Walla; Chloe Knudson, so., North Idaho; Brooklyn Rainer, so., Spokane.

Second team

Hokulea Vargas, fr., North Idaho; Anela Navor, so., Treasure Valley; Cherish Borge, fr., Treasure Valley; Kynzey Mitzel, so., North Idaho; Jordan Shoff, so., Spokane; Mollie Doyle, fr., Walla Walla.