LEWISTON, ID – Walla Walla (Wash.) showcased the depth of the Cascade Conference on Tuesday with a midweek sweep of No. 11 LC State Volleyball in Lewiston. The Wolves, receiving votes in the national poll, snapped the Warriors’ winning streak at four with scores of 26-24, 25-12, 25-21.
LC State is now 14-4 overall and 11-4 in Cascade Conference play. Karissa Lindner was the highlight of the night for the Warriors with an efficient performance both offensively and defensively.
“I was especially encouraged by our middle attack,” coach Katie Palmer said. “Karissa Lindner once again led the way. She delivered seven kills and six blocks, showing the kind of presence at the net needed for us to continue to grow as a program. We didn’t get the outcome we wanted, but as a coaching staff we’re keeping all of our student-athletes’ eyes on the process.”
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Warriors took an early lead in a tight first set. A kill by Taylor Boyce and block by Mikale Roy and Abby Beaton had LC State in front 6-4 before kills by Lindner and a block by Roy and Linder had the advantage at 12-9. Back-to-back kills by Boyce and Beaton were followed by an ace from Ashlyn Watt for a 17-12 lead, but WWU rallied soon after. The Wolves used a 7-2 run to take a 23-22 lead in the set, but a kill by Boyce helped pushed the score to set point, 24-23, in favor of the Warriors. WWU scored three straight points to take the set 26-24.
Walla Walla maintained control with a 25-12 victory in set two.
Kills by Alba Carpena and Juliauna Forgach Aguilar, along with an ace by Hannah Dotson, gave LC State an early 4-1 lead in the third frame. A run by the Wolves had WWU in front 8-7, but a kill by Boyce and block by Forgach Aguilar kept the lead changing hands.
The Warriors kept things close with kills by Forgach Aguilar, Ella Stosich and Beaton, but Walla Walla grew the margin to 18-13 before a block by Lindner and Boyce and kill by Lindner cut the difference back to three at 20-17. LC State struck for three straight points that included a block by Teagan Scott and Beaton for a one-point difference at 21-20. The Wolves went on a 4-1 run to end the match.
STAT RECAP
Lindner highlighted the night for LC State with seven kills on a .636 attack percentage to go with six blocks. Boyce and Forgach Aguilar led the Warriors with eight kills each and Scott dished out 24 assists. Beaton, Boyce and Roy each assisted on three blocks.
WWU’s Sahara Browning led the match with 18 kills at a clip of .343 and Paula Flores hit .722 with 14 kills. Yaimaris Garcia dished out 42 assists and Flores completed a double-double with a team-high 10 digs. Walla Walla had 10 service aces including three each from Adree Selley, Garcia and Browning.
UP NEXT
LC State is back in action on Thursday at Warner Pacific (Ore.). The match in Portland is set for 6 p.m.
