LEWISTON, Idaho – The Lewis-Clark State College women's volleyball team opened Frontier Conference play with a statement win on Friday night, sweeping 22nd-ranked Montana Tech in front of 225 fans inside the Activity Center.
In a match that was decided by a total of 11 points, 25-21, 25-20, 25-23, it's the team that makes the least mistakes that wins, and tonight that team was Lewis-Clark State.
The Orediggers led the Warriors in most statistical categories including; kills (44-36), attack percentage (.248-.204), blocks (9-7), assists (41-32) and digs (56-52). However, Montana Tech also had 15 attack errors, 13 service errors and five ball handling errors while LCSC played a relatively clean match with just three service errors and 13 attack errors.
LC State started fast, scoring eight of the opening 10 points with
Stephanie Ovitz contributing three kills while
Amber Hillestad and
Rachel Gregg added a pair of service aces. A block and three kills pulled the Orediggers to within two, 8-6, but a pair of kills from
Kennadie Clute ended the run. Montana Tech cut the lead to two points several times, but the Warriors were able to pull away and Clute delivered her fourth kill of the set for the winner.
A three-point run early in set two gave the visitors their first lead, but it was short lived as
Justine Cota tied the set with a kill and an attack error put the Warriors back in front. With the score tied at five, the teams traded side-outs until an Orediggers service error put LC in front and Gregg followed with an ace. Tech cut the margin back to one, 10-9, but a Clute kill followed by a Tech attack error and ball handling error gave LCSC a 13-9 lead. The Orediggers didn't go quietly, scoring 11 of 18 points to tie the set at 20, but LC responded with the final five points, including kills from
Maya Williamson, Cota and Clute, to end the set.
Unforced errors were the difference in set three as the Warriors struggled after the game break, falling behind 17-11. Another Orediggers service error gave LC the serve and
Shaelyn Pearson brought LC back, serving five straight points including an ace. A Clute kill tied the set at 18 and an attack error made it 19-18, but Tech tied the score again at 19. The Orediggers followed with four straight service errors, keeping LCSC alive and ultimately gifting the Warriors the set. The fourth service error gave the Red and Blue a 23-22 lead and a ball handling error made it match point. The Orediggers managed a kill to stave off the first match point, but Clute delivered the match winner one point later for the upset victory.
Clute finished with a team-high 12 kills, her 22nd straight match with double-figure kills, bringing her career total to 38, tying her for 10th all-time with
Treneisha Doyle. The senior also led the team with a .345 attack percentage. Ovitz added nine kills and a team-high 14 digs while Williamson had a team-best four blocks and Hillestad tallied 16 assists.
It's the eight consecutive home conference victory for the Warriors with the last loss coming on Oct. 30, 2014 to Rocky Mountain. LC moves to 5-4 overall and 1-0 in conference play with Montana Tech falling to 8-6 on the season and 0-2 in conference action.
The Warriors have a quick turnaround as they play host to No. 16 Carroll College on Saturday, Sept. 17 at 2 p.m. Live coverage of the match can be found at lcwarriors.com/live.
