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Hawks Win Dramatic 5-Set Match over NIC to Head to NWAC Finals
Posted: Nov 19, 2022

Hawks Win Dramatic 5-Set Match over NIC to Head to NWAC Finals

Box Score
Game Leaders
Columbia Basin
K: Hokulani Sagapolu - 13
B: Sa'Nya Vandyke - 6
D: Abbey Bonnington - 40
SA: 4 Players (#8, #13, #16, #22) - 1
North Idaho
K: Taylin Rowley - 20
B: 3 Players (#8, #9, #11) - 2
D: Brooklyn Minden - 38
SA: 3 Players (#3, #5, #13) - 2
Team Stats
Full stats

LAKEWOOD, Wash. – In another dramatic five-set match, the Columbia Basin volleyball team defeated East Region rival North Idaho (25-17, 19-25, 22-25, 25-23, 15-11) on Saturday to advance to the NWAC Finals at Pierce College.

The Hawks (27-3, 14-2 East) continued to overcome adversity in the NWAC tournament after falling behind 2-1 in the match, with North Idaho knocking on the final points of the fourth set. With the Cardinals (26-5, 15-1 East) leading 21-19 in the potentially deciding set, the Hawks scored four straight points to go ahead 23-21. After two consecutive points for NIC, the Hawks gathered themselves to score the final two points and force a fifth and final set.

In the fifth set, the Hawks controlled the score with three-straight points to go up 9-6. They would never give up their lead, taking the final set 15-11 to complete the team's emotional ride to the finals.

CBC trailed in the match two sets to one after the Cardinals won sets two and three. The Hawks had a strong first set with a 25-17 victory, but were forced to play from behind as they did on Friday in a five-set win over Skagit Valley.

The Hawks had three hitters in double-digit kills with Hokulani Sagapolu posting 13, Caydence Taylor adding 12 and Lucendy Perez with 11. Libero Abbey Bonnington was tough defensively making diving stops and play-saving digs, recording 40 digs on the night. Josephine Thompson had 48 assists to go with 20 digs. Sa'Nya Vandyke had seven kills and led the team with six total blocks.

The Cardinals put out an impressive effort of their own in the match that was decided by the thinnest of margins. Taylin Rowley was a hitting machine with 20 kills on 79 total attempts. Brooklyn Minden had 38 digs while Abigail Neff had 52 assists and 21 digs.

The Hawks will continue onto the NWAC Finals on Sunday at 3 p.m., taking on defending champions Linn-Benton. It will be the third meet up of the season with the teams splitting the previous two matches. The Hawks are the only team to have beaten the Roadrunners (33-1) this season. CBC will be looking for its first title since 1999.

The Cardinals will play one final match on Sunday as well, taking on Bellevue in the third-place match at 12 p.m. at Pierce College.

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