NIC ROUNDUP: Cards keep pace, finish unbeaten at Bellevue tourney
KYLE DISHAW/NIC Athletics North Idaho College freshman Isaac Fritts takes possession of the ball at midfield during the first half of a Northwest Athletic Conference match against the Community Colleges of Spokane at Eisenwinter Field on Saturday.
KYLE DISHAW/NIC Athletics North Idaho College sophomore goalkeeper Kaycee Chavez looks to clear the ball during the second half of Saturday's Northwest Athletic Conference match against the Community Colleges of Spokane.
• VOLLEYBALL
BELLEVUE, Wash. — When the North Idaho College volleyball team plays at its pace, the Cardinals can be tough to beat.
On Saturday, the Cardinals were just that.
NIC swept Lower Columbia 25-17, 25-15, 25-15 earlier on Saturday, then beat Bellevue 25-21, 25-23, 25-23 to finish the Bellevue Crossover 4-0.
“Our middles just crushed it all weekend,” NIC coach Brittany Tilleman said. “It was really a tribute to our passing and defense. Our girls just played good, aggressive volleyball all the way through the weekend.”
Against Lower Columbia, sophomore Rylee Hartwig had 12 kills and four blocks, sophomore Jessica Stires 10 kills, freshman Omayra Valle 18 digs, freshman Karolyne Wolfgramm 34 assists and two aces for NIC.
Against Bellevue — which beat NIC in the 2022 NWAC tournament third-place match — freshman Morgan Claus had 10 kills for the Cardinals, sophomore Abigail Beaton 10 kills, freshman Grace Keisel nine kills and four blocks and Hartwig seven blocks. Beaton finished the weekend with 30 kills, hitting .472 with five errors.
“Abby was just amazing this weekend,” Tilleman said. “Our tempo was so quick, we’d get to the net and they’d only have one block up. We didn’t let anyone get on a run and just did a good job of staying aggressive.”
NIC (13-1) returns home to face Wenatchee Valley on Wednesday.
• MEN'S SOCCER
North Idaho 1
Spokane 1
COEUR d’ALENE — Juan Sabogal scored in the 55th minute to tie the game for the Cardinals, who played to a Northwest Athletic Conference draw with the Sasquatch at Eisenwinter Field.
“We definitely had some chances, and they had some as well,” NIC coach Brad Williams said. “We were a little unlucky on our chances in the first half. They got a goal on a free kick, but after that, we just stuck with it. After halftime, we got back to the game plan, and it showed.”
Kael McGowan, a freshman goalkeeper from Post Falls, had four saves for NIC (2-2-1, 1-1-1 NWAC), which travels to Treasure Valley on Wednesday.
“I’m proud of the guys for what they’re doing,” Williams said. “But we’ve got a long way to go. We’re hard to beat, especially at home.”
Spokane is 0-1-1, 0-1-1.
First half — 1, CCS, Teun Suliver (unassisted), 4:12. Second half — 2, NIC, Juan Sabogal (unassisted), 55:08.
Shots on goal — CCS 5, NIC 3.
Saves — CCS, Vitor Gondim, 2; NIC, Kael McGowan, 4.
• WOMEN'S SOCCER
Spokane 1
North Idaho 0
COEUR d’ALENE — Abbey Jay scored the lone goal of the match on an assist from Reese Walker in the 13th minute for the visiting Sasquatch, who beat the Cardinals in an Northwest Athletic Conference match at Eisenwinter Field.
“It definitely wasn’t our best performance,” NIC coach Kellsi Parson said. “Spokane is good, and moves around the field well. We just had one letdown and that was the match. We came ready to play defensively, but did not offensively.”
NIC (6-3, 2-1 NWAC) resumes conference play at Treasure Valley on Wednesday.
Spokane is 3-2-1, 2-1.
First half — 1, CCS, Abbey Jay (Reese Walker), 13:49. Second half — none.
Shots on goal — CCS 10, NIC 3.
Saves — CCS, Kami Warden, 3; NIC, Kaycee Chavez, 9.
