LEWISTON, Idaho – Fifth-seeded LC State Volleyball earned its first Cascade Conference postseason victory in program history on Tuesday with a convincing sweep of eighth-seeded Walla Walla (Wash.). The Warriors won the play-in match of the 2026 Cascade Conference Volleyball Championships, presented by U.S. Bank, with set scores of 25-18, 25-17, 25-18 and advance to the final site in Caldwell, Idaho.
LC State used a .340 attack percentage and seven service aces to end Walla Walla's season. The Warriors will face fourth-seeded No. 21 Southern Oregon on Thursday in the CCC quarterfinal.
Karissa Lindner became the program's all-time leader in block assists during the match and now has 315 in her career.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The first set was an even battle until a five-point run helped the Warriors pull away 14-8.
Mikale Roy sparked the rally with a kill, and swings by
Addison Wilson and
Hadyn Smith, as well as blocks with Wilson, Smith and
Taylor Boyce, fueled the run. Boyce added a kill before an ace by
Kendall Focht to make it 18-13, and the Warriors closed the set on a 6-1 run with points by Lindner, Wilson,
Hannah Dotson and Roy.
Walla Walla scored the first two points of the second set as kills by Wilson, Boyce, Smith, Lindner and Roy kept the score close. LC State pulled away late in the frame as an ace by
Teagan Scott and WWU errors combined for a six-point run to make it 24-16. Another Wolves error ended the frame 25-17.
Roy opened the third set with a kill and swings by
Alba Carpena, Wilson and
Aubree Lane, along with an ace by
Ashlyn Watt, gave the Warriors a 7-3 lead. Walla Walla answered to tie the set but kills by Wilson and Roy helped the Warriors surge back in front 13-9, and terminations by Carpena and Focht made it 18-12.
Michaela Romine added a pair of kills before Scott ended the match with an ace and a kill.
STAT RECAP
Roy led the contest with nine kills while Wilson and Boyce each added eight. Scott dished out 20 assists and Focht tallied 17.
Wilson led LC State at the net with three block assists. Lindner had one to give her the program record with 315.
Kadence Moore anchored the back row with nine digs and
Ella Stosich collected seven. Scott and
Makenzie Stout each had two service aces.
LC State hit .340 as a team and held Walla Walla to .191.
Sahara Browning led Walla Walla with eight kills and 10 digs. Olivia Cheek dished out 13 assists and Kienna Stepper put up three blocks.
UP NEXT
The Warriors will travel to Caldwell, the final site of the 2026 CCC postseason tournament, and will face SOU on Thursday. The two teams split the regular-season series with a five-set victory each.
Stay up to date with all things Warrior Athletics at lcwarriors.com and on social media @LCWarriors.
