LEWISTON, Idaho – The LC State Warrior Volleyball team fought its way through five sets en route to a 3-2 (25-21, 25-18, 22-25, 15-25, 15-13) victory in the Activity Center on Friday night. The Warriors defeated a hot Northwest team that recently upset the then-No. 21 team in the nation in Southern Oregon. LC was led by 17 kills and four service aces from Cassidy Nelson.
 
"Hats off to Northwest for really taking it to us and making us have to dig deep," Head Coach Shaun Pohlman said. "It was a great opportunity for us to find something we have been looking for, that being the ability to respond in uncomfortable situations. Now we need to minimize the mental errors and find our consistency. Once we do that, I think we will find ourselves in a good spot."
 
LC State jumped out to a quick 7-4 lead in the opening set, aided by three straight kills by Nelson, Jess Ruffing and Carli Berntson. After falling behind 17-12, a kill by Tori Edwards sparked a nine-point rally that included a pair of aces by Nelson to put LC back in control at 21-17. Two kills by Josie Peters ended the set a 25-21 to give the Warriors a 1-0 edge in the match.
 
The momentum carried over into set number two as kills by Nelson, Berntson and Edwards gave the Warriors a 5-2 advantage. A run of four, fueled by a block by Channa Hart and Nelson and another ace by Nelson made it 17-12, and a run of three with kills by Hart, Peters and Edwards gave LC a commanding 21-14 lead. A Kenzie Dean service ace capped the set at 25-18.
 
Northwest slowed LC's momentum in the third and fourth sets, forcing the match to a deciding fifth frame.
 
The Warriors came out firing with four straight in the final set. Back-to-back kills by Hart and Jada Wyms pushed the score to 10-6 in favor of LC State before a block by Wyms and Berntson and a kill by Wyms ended the short set 15-13.
 
Nelson led the match with 17 kills and four service aces. Peters added nine kills, while Edwards and Berntson each had eight. Hannah Martinez dished out 28 assists to go with her four kills, and Ruffing dealt 19. Dean led the defense with 21 digs while Kendzee Cloward chipped in 13. Hart assisted on four blocks at the net.
 
Abu Broussard and Megan Horne each tallied 13 kills for the Eagles, while Anna Saelens dealt 40 assists. Cristina Lorenz had 14 digs.
 
The Warriors turn around quickly to face Evergreen State on Saturday at 5 p.m. in the Activity Center.
 
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