Volleyball gets big win in close match against Treasure Valley

NIC Volleyball won a tightly contested game 3-1 against Treasure Valley Friday night.

Journey Tupea and the Cards have been on a tear recently, only dropping three sets during their seven game win streak.

The Cards managed to keep a tough Treasure Valley team at bay in their 25-17, 25-11, 21-25, 25-22 victory. The Cards started off the match with quick wins in the first and second set, but had to stave off a relentless attack in the third and fourth set to retain their undefeated conference record.

Journey Tupea and Chloe Knudson continued to lead the Cardinals attack with 14 and 13 kills respectively, while Taylor Foster added 11 more to NIC’s total. East region setter of the week Hokulea Vargas put up 49 assists, and East region defender of the week Kynzey Mitzel came up with 23 digs in front of a loud home crowd.

“This year we have an awesome student section. They really bring us energy,” Mitzel said. “Treasure Valley is awesome and they’re near the top of our conference, so we were expecting a tough game. I’m just glad we were able to get it done in four sets and finish.”

At 19-3 and with eight games left in the season, the Cards are on pace to shatter their record for least losses in a season since joining the NWAC set by 2017’s 33-8 team.

The win keeps the number one ranked Cards in first place of an extremely top heavy East region with eight games remaining on the season, including rematches against Treasure Valley and Spokane. 

Up next for the Cards (8-0, 19-3) is a match at Big Bend (4-4, 14-9) Saturday Oct. 12 at 2 p.m. before returning home to play Columbia Basin (2-6, 13-15) Wednesday Oct. 16 at 6 p.m.