LEWISTON, ID– Karissa Lindner rang in the 2025 Cascade Conference season with a single-match record shattering 15 blocks as the LC State Volleyball team, receiving votes in the national poll, defeated No. 19 Southern Oregon on Friday. The Warriors fought off three match points in the fourth set to force five sets (23-25, 25-20, 19-25, 26-24, 15-12) against the national powerhouse.
Lindner’s 15 blocks as an individual fueled 18 total team blocks in the contest which ranks seventh in program history. The defense made the difference as the Warriors outblocked SOU 18-6.
“Southern Oregon is a really well-coached and talented team and they put a lot of pressure on us all night,” coach Katie Palmer said. “I’m proud of how our group responded, especially in those final two sets. Karissa was huge for us at the net. Her blocking gave us some key momentum swings when we really needed them. It was a full team effort to come out with that win.”
LC State remains unbeaten on the season (4-0, 1-0) while SOU drops to 3-5 overall and 0-1 in CCC play.
HOW IT HAPPENED
A kill by Abby Beaton started the match for LC State and a block by Alba Carpena and Lindner had the slim lead at 4-2. Swings by the duo made it 6-4, but a seven-point run by the Raiders had LC State in an 11-6 deficit. The difference grew to seven points before a short burst by LC fought off four set points, but SOU prevailed in the 25-23 set.
The Raiders carried the momentum into the second frame with a quick 4-0 lead. A kill by Juliauna Forgach Aguilar and a pair of blocks by Forgach Aguilar and Lindner cut the difference to 4-3, then the duo paired up for another after an ace by Hannah Dotson for a 6-5 edge. The set was back-and-forth until a four-point LC State run on kills by Carpena, Lindner and an ace by Ella Stosich made it 15-12 in favor of the Warriors.
SOU crept back within one, 15-14, but LC State rallied for five straight points at the hands of Forgach Aguilar and Lindner to grow the advantage to 20-14. The tandem denied the Raiders at the net once more in the set before kills by Taylor Boyce and Teagan Scott evened the match 1-1 with a 25-20 set win.
The tables turned once again in the third set as SOU jumped out to a 10-6 lead. Forgach Aguilar and Beaton teamed up for a block before each added a kill to tie the set 10-10, but the Raiders pulled ahead 21-16. Southern Oregon took the frame 25-19.
Just when it seemed Southern Oregon had the match wrapped up, the Warriors put their foot on the gas. SOU jumped in front 4-0 but swings by Forgach Aguilar brought the deficit to 5-4. The teams traded points throughout until the Raiders pulled ahead 24-20 for match point.
LC State rallied for six straight points to take control. Lindner tallied a kill before assisting Forgach Aguilar and Scott on a pair of blocks. Forgach Aguilar launched two kills before a service ace by Dotson ended the set 26-24.
The momentum stayed with the Warriors in the deciding set. After SOU scored the first point, kills by Forgach Aguilar and Carpena, along with a block by Carpena and Lindner, had the LC State lead at 3-1. Another block by the Warriors and a kill by Forgach Aguilar took the lead to 6-3.
A denial at the net by Lindner and Boyce was followed by an ace by Esther Kailiponi as the teams switched sides at 8-5. The Warriors carried the momentum to a 15-12 set win to take the contest.
STAT RECAP
Lindner shattered the LC State single-match record with a staggering 15 blocks on 14 assists and a solo. Forgach Aguilar added a career-high nine blocks while Beaton and Boyce each added three. The Warriors outblocked one of the best blocking teams in the nation 18-6.
LC State also had the edge in service aces 6-4. Dotson dealt two to lead the team.
Forgach Aguilar led the LC State offense with 17 kills and Boyce tallied 12. Scott dished out a career-high 39 assists. In the back row, Stosich led with 14 digs and Scott completed a double-double with 13.
SOU’s Maya Watters led the contest with 21 kills and Andressa Riberio Soa added 18. Mia Jaeger dealt 33 assists and Ribeiro Soa had 32 digs.
UP NEXT
The Warriors turn around quickly to take on Oregon Tech on Saturday at 4 p.m. in the P1FCU Activity Center. The Owls are just ahead of LC State in the receiving votes portion of the national poll.
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