SPOKANE, Wash. – Lewis-Clark State College opened the 2018 season and the Shaun Pohlman era with a five-set victory over No. 19 Corban University at Spokane Falls Community College. The Warriors used a balanced attack in winning 25-21, 26-24, 24-26, 15-25, 15-12 in match provided one challenge after another.
 
LC followed its season-opening victory with a non-counting exhibition match against Spokane Falls Community College. The Warriors continue action this weekend with a 9 a.m. match against Multnomah University and a 1 p.m. match against Eastern Oregon University. Both competitions are at Spokane Falls Community College.
 
After battling to win the first two sets, the Warriors faltered a bit in what could have been the match-deciding third.
 
"The kids had to learn some things on how to close," Pohlman said. "We had the fourth set to figure it out."
 
In the decisive fifth, the Warriors had capitalized on Corban errors and benefited from some timely kills to eke out a 14-12 lead.
 
"I told them not many teams get a second chance to redeem themselves," Pohlman said. "They did it."
 
Pohlman commended the leadership for the LC upperclassmen, whose court savvy helped them counter a bigger, more physical team.
 
Newcomer Mikayla Sellers-Wiebe, a senior transfer from Missouri-Western State, led the attack against Corban with 13 kills. Veterans Rachel Gregg and Aubrey King, both seniors, added 12 kills each as the Warriors recorded 56 kills. Gregg also had 12 digs as Gionni Brown was the leader in that category with 13. Senior setter Lauren West tallied 48 assists.