BUTTE, Mont. – A balanced team effort led the Lewis-Clark State volleyball team to its first victory of the season – a four-set (25-21, 23-25, 25-22, 25-15) decision over Merced of California at the Big Sky Challenge at Montana Tech.
 
Rachel Gregg hit .406 in leading the Warriors (1-5) with 14 kills, while Natalie Batiste added another 12 off a .276 effort. Luana Thompson led the defensive effort with 24 digs with Jordan Phelan notching 14 and Gregg adding 11.  Lauren West was accurate in her passing in tallying 45 assists as LCSC played its best match of the young season.
 
"Rachel stepped up and did a great job," coach LaToya Harris-Alexander said. "Luana did a very good job defensively."
 
Harris-Alexander said the time spent together on a five-match road swing is starting to pay dividends as the Warriors are starting to play as a unit instead of six individuals.
 
"You have to be disciplined. You have to stay consistent," she said. "You started to see a natural flow because they have been together a bit longer."
 
And an increased intensity.
 
"We were able to attack," she said. "They started to play to win instead of not to lose. They started to flow together more offensively."
 
The Warriors take on Dickinson State tonight at 6 p.m. PT before Saturday matches at 10 a.m. (Evergreen State) and 2 p.m. (College of Idaho).