Cardinals improve to 8-1 heading into conference play

PASCO, Wash. — Even with the best outcome, it could have been better.

North Idaho College swept Edmonds, a NWAC playoff team last year, 25-23, 25-19, 25-11, then beat South Puget Sound 25-16, 25-15, 25-21, on Saturday to cap a 3-1 weekend at the Coach G Memorial Invitational at Columbia Basin College.

Sophomore Jessica Stires had nine kills, sophomore Rylee Hartwig of Post Falls eight kills and five blocks for NIC against Edmonds, the third seed from the North Region last year (NIC reached the NWAC semifinals).

"Even though we swept, it felt off," said first-year NIC coach Brittany Tilleman, whose team opened the tourney Friday with a win over Lower Columbia before falling to 2023 champion Linn-Benton in three sets. "We just had an off day again and played with a lack of energy. What we did didn't feel super positive, but we did what we needed to do to get a win."

Sophomore Omayra Valle had 19 digs, sophomore Brooke Minden of Post Falls 10 digs and freshman Karolyne Wolfgramm 31 assists, two aces and three blocks for NIC against Edmonds.

Against South Puget Sound, Hartwig had eight kills, freshman Morgan Claus seven kills, Stires six kills and freshman Madilyn Harper three blocks for NIC (8-1), which opens conference play at Treasure Valley of Ontario, Ore., on Sept. 13.

"Seeing Madilyn get three blocks was cool to see," Tilleman said. "We had a ton of unforced errors in that match, and we've got to do better at limiting those. Other times, that's a loss."

For more information on North Idaho College Athletics visit the Coeur d'Alene Press:  https://cdapress.com/news/2023/sep/03/nic-volleyball-cardinals-improve-8-1-heading-confe/