SALT LAKE CITY – The Lewis-Clark State College volleyball team has proven this season to be a team that emphasizes a sharing approach to the game of volleyball. The Warriors spread the ball around on offense, sub a lot of players into the game, and it seems like any team member can be the star on any given night. However, on Thursday evening the Warriors stated loud and clear that there is one thing they won’t share—the Frontier Conference regular season title.
The conference tournament, to be held in Helena, Mont., is scheduled for Nov. 11-12. The Warriors will enter the tournament as the No. 1 seed and will play the No. 8 seed Montana Tech on Friday, Nov. 11, at 11 a.m., Pacific time. If they defeat Tech they will play at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 12.
Westminster, which is now 11-14 overall and 8-6 in the conference, was led by Ashley Marchant’s 13 kills.
Starting setter Nevena Dragovic collected 34 assists on the day, and Hubert finished with seven.
Harris also commented that her defensive specialists did a good job of digging and passing down the stretch. Kaylee Rector finished with 13 digs, while Chelsea Shears and Mallorie Schoesler had seven apiece.
What also helped the Warriors in the fourth set was momentum. The Warriors trailed 15-4 at one point during set three and were able to battle back to nearly win the set, and this energy carried into the fourth.
After claiming the first two sets, inconsistent passing helped lead to defeat for the Warriors in the third set, but Hubert was able to help the offense get back on track in the fourth and final set.
“Westminster was fighting hard against us, but we were able to keep our composure,” said Harris. “Lauryn hit well outside and Ali [Hubert] did a great job of coming in off the bench and setting for us.”
Overall, LCSC outhit the Griffins .225 to .161.
The Warriors, as usual, used a very balanced attack to get past the Griffins on Thursday night. Kelli Tikker had 16 kills, Brianne Brown had 12, and Lauryn Herrick had 10. Herrick played exceptionally well as she hit .500 on the night.
If the Warriors continue to play with the kind of poise they’ve displayed during their current 13-match winning streak, then making a run at the tournament title is a definite possibility.
“I couldn’t be more happy and proud of them,” said first-year LCSC head coach LaToya Harris about her players. “But I told them that season one is done, and now season two is here with the conference tournament.”
Lewis-Clark State, ranked No. 8 in the NAIA, finishes the regular season at 19-3 overall and 13-1 in league play. The program has now won five consecutive regular season titles, and will be looking to win their fifth straight conference tournament title next week.
With a win over Westminster College, LCSC moved out of reach of second-place Rocky Mountain and claimed sole possession of the season crown. The Warriors won the match in four sets 25-22, 25-23, 23-25, 25-18.
