Volleyball sweeps Blue Mountain

In their first game since knocking off Spokane, NIC volleyball took care of Blue Mountain at home Wednesday night.

Journey Tupea and Talyor Foster block a shot. NIC currently leads the NWAC in blocks per set with 2.92, and is second in total blocks with 196.

Offensive leader for the Cards was Hannah McPhetridge with 11 kills and four blocks. East region defensive player of the week Kynzey Mitzel led the team in digs with 16, and East region setter of the week Hokulea Vargas put up 38 assists. Journey Tupea added eight kills and five digs, and Chloe Knudson contributed seven kills and five digs in the 25-16, 25-16, 25-13 victory.

The Cards got off to a quick 10-2 start in the first set and a 8-1 start in the

Tessa Sarff had four kills in the victory over Blue Mountain. Unlike other top teams like Spokane and Treasure Valley, NIC doesn’t have two players in the top 10 in kills. Instead, the Cards have four players in the top 40 with Journey Tupea being the highest ranked at 17.

second set, and both sets never ended up being much of a contest. Blue Mountain kept it close in the the beginning of the third set until McPhetridge came out and put up six of her 11 kills and seemed to block every ball in sight.

“She was on fire tonight,” Knudson said. “[Head coach Kelsey Stanley] even told her to do whatever she did before the game every time because that was awesome.”

Up next for the number one ranked Cards (18-3, 7-0) is a match against sixth ranked Treasure Valley (16-9, 6-1) Friday Oct. 11 at 6 p.m.