PORTLAND, Ore. – Despite a close first set, Lewis-Clark State Volleyball made quick work of the Multnomah University Lions in a 3-0 (25-23, 25-16, 25-12) sweep to open the weekend. The victory keeps the Warriors in the hunt for a spot in the Cascade Conference postseason tournament.
 
"With four teams still vying for those final two spots, we are going to celebrate every outcome that works in our favor so we are happy to get the win tonight," Head Coach Shaun Pohlman said. "Multnomah did a good job and really made us earn it. It wasn't our best defensive performance tonight, but the team made in-game adjustments which helped us get better as the match went on."
 
The Lions jumped out to a 5-3 advantage to open the match, but a five-point rally with kills by Channa Hart and Cassidy Nelson, as well as two aces by Jess Ruffing, put LC in front 8-5. The Warriors maintained their lead with a kill and ace by Nelson at 10-6, and a block by Hart and Nelson shut down a run by MU. Multnomah rallied to tie the set 23-23, but an ace by Kenzie Dean ended the set 25-23.
 
Carli Berntson started the second set with a kill, and swings by Grecia Ung Enriquez, Hart and Tori Edwards grew the lead to 5-2. The Warriors held steady command of the lead and four straight points on kills by Ung Enriquez, Hart, Edward, and an ace by Kendzee Cloward ended the set 25-16.
 
The momentum carried over into the third set as LC State quickly finished off Multnomah 25-12. The Warriors went on two separate five-point runs before a kill by Hallie Seaman, block by Berntson and Seaman, and an ace by Hannah Martinez ended the match.
 
Ung Enriquez led the team with nine kills at a .474 attack percentage. Ruffing and Martinez dished 19 and 18 assists, respectively. Dean tallied 11 digs while Cloward added 10.
 
The Warriors wrap up the trip Saturday night at Warner Pacific at 5 p.m.
 
 
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