Cardinal volleyball wrap unbeaten run through East Region

COEUR d'ALENE — Sophomore Rachael Stacey had 11 kills and 16 digs on sophomore night for North Idaho College, which capped an unbeaten run through the Northwest Athletic Conference's East Region with a 25-20, 25-16, 25-13 sweep of the visiting Columbia Basin Hawks of Pasco at Christianson Gymnasium on Friday.

"I'm really proud of this group," first-year NIC coach Brittany Tilleman said. "To be undefeated and East Region champions, we're peaking at the right time. I'm excited to see what this team can do next."

NIC (28-1, 16-0 NWAC) will host the East Bracket of the Northwest Athletic Conference Championships next Saturday and Sunday. NIC will face Everett (21-11), the No. 4 team from the North Region, next Saturday at 1 p.m.

Freshman Gracie Keisel had 15 kills, freshman Omayra Valle 23 digs and two aces, freshman Karolyne Wolfgramm 16 digs, 38 assists and three aces and sophomore Jessica Stires two blocks for NIC.

"This group has competed hard since Day 1," Tilleman said. "And that's what has helped us. We've had injuries and our twos, threes and even fours have come in and competed, played hard and been successful. It's been the entire team, and that's really cool to see."

Columbia Basin (17-12, 9-7), the conference runner-up in 2022, will be the fourth seed from the East Region to the conference tournament.

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