NIC ROUNDUP:Cardinals get home, past Blue Mountain in three
Photo by KYLE DISHAW/NIC Athletics North Idaho College freshman setter Karolyne Wolfgramm digs up a ball during Saturday's Northwest Athletic Conference match against Blue Mountain at Christianson Gymnasium.
• VOLLEYBALL
COEUR d’ALENE — Tied 10-10 in the first set, road weary North Idaho College turned it up a notch and didn’t look back.
Freshman Morgan Claus had 12 kills, sophomore Abigail Beaton eight kills and two blocks for the Cardinals in a 25-15, 25-15, 25-13 win over the visiting Blue Mountain Timberwolves in Northwest Athletic Conference play at Christianson Gymnasium on Saturday.
NIC (22-1, 10-0 NWAC) returned home after sweeping Yakima Valley on Friday at midnight, then turned around for Saturday’s match at 2 p.m., a rescheduled date due to a scheduling conflict with Blue Mountain from last week.
“We got to the gym and did our regular stuff, but didn’t really get going until midway into the first set,” NIC coach Brittany Tilleman said. “The girls just decided to get going and definitely earned their rest this weekend.”
Sophomore Omayra Valle had 10 digs, freshman Amelia Kinikini 10 digs, freshman Karolyne Wolfgramm 32 assists and three aces, freshman Grace Keisel three aces and freshman Lily Leidenfrost three blocks for NIC, which hosts Big Bend on Wednesday in its Dig Pink game.
“Morgan has been really consistent the last two games and did a good job of moving the ball around and hitting good shots,” Tilleman said. “Lily did a really good job of making plays when she had opportunities and was very aggressive at the net.”
Blue Mountain is 4-15, 3-5.
• WOMEN'S SOCCER
North Idaho 9
Treasure Valley 0
COEUR d’ALENE — This week, the Cardinals have worked on their pressure as the season enters its final moments.
Saturday, the Cardinals put it on the Chukars, both early, and often.
Sophomore Teresa Ledezma had a hat trick for the Cardinals (11-4-2, 7-2-2 NWAC) in a win over the Chukars (2-10, 1-9-0) at Eisenwinter Field.
“We’ve been working on getting on the attack and everything just came together today,” NIC coach Kellsi Parson said. “It was just a good, overall team effort today.”
NIC, leads Walla Walla by two points for the third and final playoff spot from the East Region with three matches remaining.
“All year, we’ve talked about not peaking too soon,” Parson said. “Right now, we feel like we’re on the way up, instead of down.”
NIC travels to Columbia Basin of Pasco, Wash., on Wednesday.
First half — 1, NIC, Ainsley Kerley (Kara Michaelis), 10:27. 2, NIC, Cora Anderson (unassisted), 15:25. 3, NIC, Rylee Wardle (unassisted), 22:05. 4, NIC, Alli Ellsworth (Marina Smith), 22:33. 5, NIC, Teresa Ledezma (unassisted), 22:33. 6, NIC, Ledezma (Wardle), 25:49. Second half — 7, NIC, Michaelis (McKenzie Gooch), 55:02. 8, NIC, Ledezma (unassisted), 66:15. 9, NIC, Adison Stoddard (unassisted), 70:56.
Shots on goal — TVCC 3, NIC 11.
Saves — TVCC, Katie Kaba, 2; NIC, Kaycee Chavez, 3.
• MEN'S SOCCER
North Idaho 0
Treasure Valley 0
COEUR d’ALENE — Kael McGowan, a freshman from Post Falls High, had seven saves for the Cardinals in a Northwest Athletic Conference draw with the Chukars at Eisenwinter Field.
“Kael had a couple of big saves for us today,” NIC coach Brad Williams said. “A few of them on the goaline were just top notch.”
NIC (2-7-3, 1-6-3 NWAC) visits Columbia Basin of Pasco, Wash., on Wednesday.
Treasure Valley is 2-6-3, 1-5-2.
First half — none. Second half — none.
Shots on goal — TVCC 7, NIC 4.
Saves — TVCC, Fernando Garcia, 4; NIC, Kael McGowan, 7.