North Idaho Takes Down Lower Columbia in Straight Sets to Advance to Semis

LAKEWOOD, Wash. – The third match of the NWAC Volleyball Championship featured the third-straight sweep as North Idaho took down Lower Columbia in straight sets (25-20, 25-23, 25-18) on Friday night at Pierce College.

The Cardinals advance to the semifinals to play the winner of the final match of Friday's quarterfinals between Skagit Valley and Columbia Basin.

North Idaho used an impressive offensive performance to earn the sweep over LCC. The Cardinals hit .315 as a team with a pair of hitters in double digit kills. Taylin Rowley finished with 14 kills on 38 attacks while Jessica Stires had 11 on 25 attacks with a .440 hitting percentage. Setter Abigail Neff was dishing to her teammates all game long, recording 39 assists with nine digs.  Brooklyn Minden added 16 digs. Rylee Hartwig had six kills with three blocks.

Set two was the closest of the match as the Cardinals won by a 25-23 score. NIC led by as much as 21-14 but Lower Columbia rallied furiously to tie the score 22-22. The Cardinal put an end to the run, however, scoring three of the final four points to take the set.

The Red Devils were led offensively by Paige Chinchen who had nine kills and Kate Johnson who had eight kills. Arianna Vreeland finished with 16 digs and Alex Tinsley had 25 assists.

North Idaho will play in Saturday's second semifinal match against the winner of Columbia Basin and Skagit Valley at 5 p.m.

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