Sierra Pancho sets the ball for another kill against Clackamas. (Ethan Schlussler)
The 17th-ranked lady Cardinals swept all five matches in the tournament held last weekend at Spokane Falls Community College.
The team managed to get all the way to the last match before they lost their first set. Linn-Benton Community College managed to fight past the defense and claim the lone set win against the Cards, pushing the team into their only four-set match all weekend.
“Every time we would get a kill, get a point, we would cheer really, really loud,” said freshman Brooklynn Bradbury. “I think they got thrown off with how fired up we were as a team.”
Many of the players said that their new coaching staff really helped push them to perform better.
“The coaches are 100 percent, even a thousand times better,” said outside hitter Mariah Smith. “Kandice is young, but she is tough and knows exactly what she is doing.
Over Labor Day weekend, the Lady Cards walked away with a modest 2-2 record at the Salt Lake Community College Invitational on Sept. 2 and 3.
NIC beat their first opponent, Utah State University-College of Eastern Utah, in five sets with scores of 20-25, 19-25, 25-21, 25-20, and 15-8.
Freshman setter Sierra Pancho led the team with 42 assists and 14 digs. Freshman middle blocker Yang Yang contributed greatly to the team with 19 kills, 18 digs, and five blocks.
Outside hitter Sabrina Ewing had 12 kills, and middle blocker Janele Vogt had 10 kills. Emily Sarff also contributed 16 digs in the opening game.
NIC then lost to Western Wyoming Community College of Rock Springs in four sets with scores of 26-24, 10-25, 20-25, and 23-25.
Pancho led the lady Cards with 37 assists, and Yang was the team leader with 16 kills, 12 digs, and four blocks. Smith added 12 kills to the stat card, while Ewing added 10.
The following day, NIC lost to 13th-ranked Northeastern Junior College of Sterling, Colo. in four sets with scores of 17-25, 27-29, 26-24, and 18-25.
Pancho rallied with 31 assists, and Yang drove in 15 kills, seven digs, and two blocks, Smith also made a showing with 10 kills and 18 digs.
The team ended the tournament defeating Northwest College of Powell, Wyo. in three sets with scores of 25-16, 25-16, and 25-16.
Pancho had 34 assists, Yang 11 kills, Vogt seven kills, and Smith tallied up eight kills and 11 digs for NIC.
Smith said she returned this season knowing she would have many new freshman faces to guide. Lessons she learned from last year’s sophomores have been carried over.
“We didn’t connect (with the sophomores) as much, but this year we are embracing our freshman a lot better,” Smith said. “We are helping them out a lot and I think they look up to us.”
The whole season started off rough when the team lost three out of their four matches in Twin Falls at the College of Southern Idaho (CSI) tournament on Aug. 26 and 27.
The Lady Cardinals lost their opening match of the tournament to Northwest College in five sets, but they fired back for the second game of the day by sweeping the Casper College Thunderbirds 3-0.
The next day, NIC was defeated by Western Wyoming Community College and Carroll College of Helena, Mont. both in three sets a piece.
The Lady Cards continue to march on despite the turmoil that emerged when the season opened. They play this weekend in the second CSI tournament this season held at Twin Falls. Coach Kandice Kelly said the team has the right chemistry to make any game a win.
“We are great at digging the ball up, we are great at serves received,” Kelly said. “We have hitters that have all the shots; it’s just a matter of if they do it or not.”
The team won’t have its first home game until Oct.1. They host their interstate rivals, CSI, on home court in a game in a game that should amp players and spectators alike.
