NIC sends Snow College home with loss

The top ranked North Idaho College volleyball team beat Snow College of Ephraim, Utah in four sets with scores of 21-25, 25-12, 25-18 and 25-17 Sept. 22 at Christianson Gymnasium.

Yang Yang led both teams with 14 kills and added 11 digs, HayleeMae Dennis had 12 kills and Brooklynn Bradbury led with 21 assists.

NIC recovered from its first loss of the season against Salt Lake Community College two days prior to playing Snow.

“It was nice to see their response from losing in five on Thursday but every game is going to be huge,” head coach Kandice Gregorak said. “Snow’s just as good as Salt Lake.”

The Lady Cardinals got off to a rocky start against Snow losing its first set. NIC kept the deficit to within a few points most of the match, and tied the game at 13 a piece but Snow outscored the Lady Cardinals 12-8 after that point.

Gregorak told her team after the first set to play with confidence and to not worry about making mistakes.

The players received the message and reminded the Lady Badgers of their No. 1 ranking in the nation by responding with an 11-2 start in the second set and a win.

NIC never looked back as the Lady Cardinals went on a 7-3 run to end the third set after Snow hung around trailing 18-15.

The Lady Cardinals took the fourth set opening up a 13-7 advantage before winning 25-17.

NIC improved its record to 14-1 overall and 1-1 in conference play and will play its next six games on the road, starting with the College of Southern Idaho in Twin Falls Sept. 28.