NIC ROUNDUP: Cardinals sweep Big Bend
Photo courtesy of NIC ATHLETICS North Idaho College defender Juan Sabogal defends against Columbia Basin's Eric Martinez during the first half of a Northwest Athletic Conference match at Eisenwinter Field.
Photo courtesy of NIC ATHLETICS North Idaho College sophomore Solei Elletson applies pressure on a Columbia Basin player during the second half of Wednesday's match.
• VOLLEYBALL
MOSES LAKE, Wash. — To get the momentum, sometimes you’ve got to find a way to take it when playing on the road.
Wednesday was North Idaho College freshman Morgan Claus’ night.
Claus, an outside hitter from Moscow, had nine kills and 18 digs for the Cardinals in a 25-14, 25-23, 25-22 Northwest Athletic Conference win over the Big Bend Vikings.
“Morgan has been our most consistent hitter and is doing a good job of finding ways to score,” NIC coach Brittany Tilleman said. “She’s really crushing it right now.”
Sophomore Jessica Stires, freshman Grace Keisel and sophomore Rylee Hartwig had nine kills each for NIC (17-1, 5-0 NWAC), which has won 11 straight matches.
“Our hitters are doing a good job of staying high and finding the court in the air,” Tilleman said.
Freshman Karolyne Wolfgramm had 19 assists, freshman Hailey Hillman 18 assists, sophomore Omayra Valle two aces, sophomore Brooke Minden two aces and sophomore Abigail Beaton three blocks for NIC, which faces the Community Colleges of Spokane tonight at 6 at Spokane Falls Community College.
Big Bend is 2-12, 0-5.
• WOMEN'S SOCCER
North Idaho 0
Columbia Basin 0
COEUR d’ALENE — Sometimes, rain can be a good thing.
It worked out well enough for the Cardinal women on Wednesday afternoon.
Sophomore goalkeeper Kaycee Chavez had 13 saves for NIC, which played to a Northwest Athletic Conference draw with the Hawks at Eisenwinter Field.
“Kaycee was awesome today,” NIC coach Kellsi Parson said. “She had a 1v1 save and another on a corner kick that really kept us in the game. She just commanded the field well today. After those shots, there wasn’t anything super dangerous, but when it’s wet, anything can happen. I thought Kaycee played well today.”
It was NIC’s (7-4-1, 3-2-1 NWAC) eighth shutout of the season. Columbia Basin, which leads the East Region, is 7-0-2, 4-0-2.
“We definitely rely on the defense quite a bit,” Parson said. “Today, we got forward a few more times and had some really good chances, but just didn’t hit the back of the net.”
NIC travels to Yakima Valley on Saturday.
First half — none. Second half — none.
Shots on goal — CBC 13, NIC 4.
Saves — CBC, Jayuana Keiser, 4; NIC, Kaycee Chavez, 13.
• MEN'S SOCCER
Columbia Basin 1
North Idaho 0
COEUR d’ALENE — Rafael Lucio scored in the seventh minute for the Hawks in a Northwest Athletic Conference win over the Cardinals at Eisenwinter Field.
Kael McGowan, a freshman from Post Falls High, had 12 saves for NIC.
“We played really well as a group,” NIC coach Brad Williams said. “Kael, he was man of the match and saved our bacon a bunch of times. Both him and Spencer (Lords) played really, really well. It was just a great team performance tonight.”
NIC (2-5-1, 1-4-1 NWAC) hosts Blue Mountain of Pendleton, Ore., next Wednesday.
Columbia Basin, which leads the East Region, is 8-0, 5-0.
First half — 1, CBC, Rafael Lucio (unassisted), 7:20. Second half — none.
Shots on goal — CBC 13, NIC 1.
Saves — CBC, Dylan Villalobos, 1; NIC, Kael McGowan, 12.
