Mariah Smith keeps the ball live and hot in the rescheduled game against Utah State University-Eastern.
The NIC Lady Cardinals improved their winning streak to nine games and ended their final home game of the season with a win over Utah State University-Eastern last Wednesday.
“I felt pretty good about it,” said middle blocker Janele Vogt, 19, business and marketing. “They definitely have good effort and they try their best, but I think we are just too much for them.”
The Lady Cards (20-7, 7-1 Scenic West Athletic Conference play) remained unbeaten at home this year with a 8-0 record on Rolly Williams Court and climbed to fifth in the NJCAA polls.
“They were excellent,” said Shelby Lausen, 18, communications. “It was a really slow game compared to our game on Saturday, but we still didn’t play at our tops like we should’ve. I’m stoked to be undefeated at home.”
NIC will finish the regular season on the road against eighth-ranked College of Southern Idaho, Utah State University-Eastern and Colorado Northwestern Community College.
The Lady Cards are winners of 18 out of their last 20 games, with the two losses against Salt Lake Community College.
“Playing at home always helps with having our fans here,” said head coach Kandice Kelly. “It has been a good streak and this weekend’s game is going to prove how good we are. We have to win this one.”
Before NIC defeated USU-Eastern, the Lady Cardinals beat Salt Lake Community College on Oct. 15 with scores of 25-13, 25-20, 16-25, 17-25 and 15-13 to gain sole position of first place in the SWAC.
The Lady Cards, who were ranked eighth in the nation going into the game, and the Bruins, who were ranked fifth, were tied for first place in the conference.
Yang Yang led the NIC team with 16 kills and added 16 digs, while Sierra Pancho contributed 28 assists. Mariah Smith dug the ball 17 times to go along with 10 kills.
NIC previously defeated SWAC opponent Snow College of Ephraim, UT, in four sets at home on Oct. 13. The scores were 25-22, 23-25, 25-21 and 26-24.
Pancho led the Lady Cardinals with 39 assists, while Vogt led the team in kills with 15. Smith had six kills and a team high 11 digs.
The Community Colleges of Spokane visited Rolly Williams Court on Oct. 10 only to be beaten in straight sets (25-19, 25-18 and 25-21).
Pancho had 30 assists for the night, while Yang smacked 15 kills to lead the team in that category and six blocks.
Smith greatly contributed with 10 kills and 13 digs.
“We came out a little flat (after the second set), but we pulled together and stuck to the game plan,” Lausen said.
Prior to that game, NIC was victorious over Colorado Northwestern Community College at home on Oct. 6. They won in three sets with scores of 25-13, 25-11 and 25-14.
Pancho led the way with 25 assists, while Yang added 14 kills. Brooklyn Bradbury also contributed 10 assists and 10 digs.
The Lady Cardinals were ranked 11th at the time they defeated the Carroll College Fighting Saints in non-conference play at home on Oct. 4.
They posted scores of 26-24, 25-15, 20-25 and 25-18 to win their second straight home game.
Vogt and Yang led the team in kills with 19 a piece, while Pancho led the team in assists with 47. Sarff contributed 15 digs in the winning effort.
Carroll College swept NIC in the College of Southern Idaho tournament earlier in the season on Aug. 27.
