Cardinals answer, advance to Elite 8 of NWAC Championships

COEUR d'ALENE — Even at 1-1 after two sets, North Idaho College knew it had to answer its own problems to advance to the Elite 8 next Friday at Pierce College in Lakewood, Wash.

"Our girls, you could see them questioning themselves, and if we were really a No. 1," first-year NIC coach Brittany Tilleman said. "I just told them they're big, we're big, they hit high, and we hit high. We really had to fuel that confidence and build on what we're good about doing."

Rylee Hartwig, a sophomore from Post Falls High, had 14 kills, 11 digs and one block for the Cardinals, who battled past Highline of Des Moines, Wash., 25-21, 20-25, 25-20, 25-15 in the championship match of the Northwest Athletic Conference East Region tournament, advancing to the Elite 8.

"We had a lot of really big defensive plays," Tilleman said. "We had three or four rallies where we had to dig in and go. Rylee had some really big digs to keep us going."

Freshman Gracie Keisel from Mapleton, Utah, had 17 kills and 17 digs, sophomore Rachael Stacey of Helena, Mont., 15 kills and 18 digs for NIC (30-1), which faces North No. 2 Bellevue (28-5) on Friday at 2 p.m.

Bellevue, the North Region regular season champion, was upset in its opener by Columbia Basin. The Hawks of Pasco, Wash., claimed the North Region title to advance to the Elite 8.

Highline (29-4), which also advanced by sweeping Everett 25-18, 25-13, 25-10 in the second-place match, entered as the West Region No. 2 seed after finishing tied with Lower Columbia.

"They're a really good team that challenged us," Tilleman said. "I told our girls the three things we can control is our attitude, effort and energy. We missed so many serves in the first two sets (10), that once we got that under control, we were able to take control of the match."

NIC went unbeaten in conference play. All four teams in the East Region won on the first day, the only region to advance all four to Sunday.

"There wasn't much that was going to challenge us during conference, but we took it and used it to get better," Tilleman said. "I think we've seen more of the best. I'm glad we got to compete against a team like Highline. We truly just knocked off another No. 1 seed. I'm really looking forward to seeing what our girls can do on the big stage."

Freshman setter Karolyne Wolfgramm from West Valley City, Utah, had 54 assists, 16 digs, one ace and one block for NIC and Omayra Valle, a sophomore from Puerto Rico, had 27 digs.

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