CALDWELL, Idaho – LC State Volleyball proved to be Road Warriors on Saturday with a thrilling four-set victory over No. 23 College of Idaho in Caldwell. The win completed the season sweep of the Yotes, marking the first time the Warriors have accomplished the feat since fully joining the Cascade Conference. The victory also clinched a spot in the Cascade Conference tournament for the Warriors.
With the win, the Warriors are 14-11 on the season and 11-9 in CCC play. LC State is sixth in the standings heading into the final week of the regular season.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Warriors jumped out in front in the first set after three kills by
Juliauna Forgach Aguilar and two by
Karissa Lindner gave LC a 6-2 lead.
Hallie Seaman notched a pair of kills and teamed up with Lindner on a block to make it 9-4, and two kills by
Taylin Rowley had the advantage at 11-7. Back-to-back swings by
Anna Merrill and Lindner kept the momentum going at 13-8 before a kill by Forgach Aguilar pushed the advantage to 16-9.
The Yotes rallied to cut the margin to 19-18, but kills by
Missy Mortensen and Merrill and a block by the pair pushed the difference back to 22-20. Forgach Aguilar teamed up with Lindner on a block before putting one up by herself to guide the set to a 25-23 win.
C of I struck first in the second frame, but a kill by Forgach Aguilar and ace by
Ella Stosich helped LC State take a 3-1 lead. The Yotes regained the advanage before a back-and-forth ensued. Lindner sparked a short four-point run with contributions from Mortensen, Seaman, Rowley and
Katie Rainville to put the Warriors back in front 10-7. A pair of kills by Forgach Aguilar grew the difference to 15-9 and kills by
Esther Kailiponi and Forgach Aguilar made it 19-11. LC State held the momentum and Lindner ended the set 25-17 with a kill.
The Yotes turned things around in the third set with a 9-1 opening run. Two aces by Rainville cut the difference to 12-6 and tallies by Forgach Aguilar, Lindner, Seaman and Rowley had the Warriors within two, 18-16, but C of I surged to take the frame 25-18.
LC State took back control in the fourth set. A kill by Forgach Aguilar sparked a 6-1 run that saw kills by Lindner and Merrill and an ace by Stosich. C of I errors kept the Warriors in front 12-8 before kills by Forgach Aguilar, Merrill and Lindner grew the advantage to 16-11. Merrill notched a kill before joining Mortensen on a block and
Makenzie Stout served back-to-back aces for a 24-17 lead. Merrill ended the match with a kill at 25-18.
STAT RECAP
Forgach Aguilar led the match with 21 kills and Lindner added 10 on a .438 attack percentage. Rainville dealt a contest-best three aces and
Abbey Neff (14) and Kailponi (13)combined for 27 assists.
The Warriors outblocked C of I 10-7 led by five from Mortensen. Seaman and Linder each totaled four blocks.
Natany Felix Guimaraes led the match with 27 digs and Neff notched a double-double with 12.
LC State hit .201 as a team and held the Yotes to .182. The two Idaho teams tallied the same amount of points (67), but the Warriors finished the night with less errors.
UP NEXT
The Warriors conclude the regular season next week at home. LC State hosts Bushnell (Ore.) and No. 8 Corban (Ore.) Nov. 8-9. The Warriors will celebrate their seven seniors ahead of Saturday's 4 p.m. contest.
Stay up to date with all things Warrior Athletics at lcwarriors.com and on social media @LCWarriors.
