LEWISTON, Idaho – The Lewis-Clark State Volleyball team now holds sole possession of first place in the Frontier Conference after a Senior Day sweep of the Montana Western Bulldogs (25-20, 25-23, 25-14). Tori Edwards did her part, tallying 14 kills with a. 370 attack percentage in the final home match of the season.
"Western kept us on our toes, especially in the first two sets," sophomore setter Josilyn Remick said. "We just had to come together and regroup and know that we needed to be more consistent."
Remick also talked about what it feels like to be the top team in the conference.
"It's awesome. Everyone has been working so hard for this moment. We just want to keep climbing."
Prior to the match, the Warriors honored their five seniors in a Senior Day ceremony. Hannah Pond, Jordan Phelan, Brooke Kaawa, Sydney Lawrence and Gionni Brown were all recognized for their contributions to the Warrior Volleyball Program.
The Bulldogs and Warriors traded points throughout the first set, sitting tied until a block by Channa Hart and Morgan Ness, and kills by Ness and Caril Bernston gave LC three-straight points to push ahead to a 19-16 lead. Edwards contributed five kills in the first 16 points. Ness and Lawrence went back-to-back before a block by Lawrence and Berntson gave LC a 22-17 advantage. A kill by Ness brought the score to set point at 24-20 and an attack error ended it at 25-20.
Edwards gave the Warriors their first lead of the second set with a kill, and Kenzie Dean followed with a service ace to make it 4-2. A strong swing by Lawrence, Hart and Edwards combined for three-straight kills to grow the advantage to 7-4. Kaawa and Ness tallied a kill each to put the Warriors in front 11-8 and a huge block by Remick and Hart kept the Warriors in front by three at 12-9. The Warriors continued their offensive attack as Edwards grew her kill total to 11 through the first two sets. UMW rallied to tie the set late at 23-23, but a service error gave the Warriors back the lead at 24-23 and an attack error gave LC a 25-23 set victory.
Remick started the third set with an ace to get the offense going for the Warriors. A kill by Edwards kept LC in front 2-1, and a big swing by Kaawa made it 4-3. Phelan tallied her first kill of the match and kills by Hart and Ness and a block by Hart and Ness made it four in a row for a score of 11-6. An error gave LC a 14-7 advantage and forced a UMW timeout.
In just her first match of the season, Madeline Taylor came up with a stellar dig to keep a ball up en route to a Bulldog attack error to give LC a 17-12 lead, and an ace from Phelan continued the Warriors' roll at 19-13. Taylor followed a solo block with a spinning kill to make it 22-13, and Josye Miller got in on the action to make it 23-14. Ness pushed the score to match point before ending it with another kill at 25-14.
Edwards led the match with 14 kills on a .370 attack percentage. Remick dished out 33 assists and Brown collected 12 digs in her final regular-season home match. Hart put up four blocks to do her part of defense.
Abbee Croninger led the Bulldogs with five kills. Tannah Sellers had seven digs and Madison Richtmyer had eight assists.
The Warriors held UMW to a .025 attack percentage and a total of 18 kills.
The Warrior seniors gave their thoughts about their final regular-season match in the Activity Center after the win.
"It am extremely grateful for everyone that came to watch and for everyone that makes it possible to do what we do," Phelan, the team's only four-year senior, said.
The Warriors wrap up their regular season next week on the road. The face Carroll in Helena, Mont. on Nov. 8 at 6 p.m. PT, then close the season on Nov. 9 at Montana Tech at 1 p.m. PT.
