LEWISTON – The Cascade Conference continually proves to be one of the strongest in the NAIA, and Saturday night was no different. The Bushnell University Beacons visited the P1FCU Activity Center and battled to a 3-1 (25-23, 22-25, 25-21, 25-14) victory over LC State Volleyball.
The Warriors sit at 3-9 overall and 2-5 in CCC action.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Beacons jumped out to a 7-2 lead early in the opening set before LC State answered with a seven-point run to pull ahead 13-10. Kills by Missy Mortensen, Juliauna Forgach Aguilar and Kierstyn York, as well as a block by Mortensen and York, fueled the rally. Back-to-back swings by Forgach Aguilar and Karissa Lindner kept the marginal lead at 15-11, but Bushnell used a short burst to take a 23-22 advantage. A Beacon kill and Warrior error ended the frame 25-23.
LC State turned things around in the second set. Blocks by Anna Merrill and Lindner, paired with an ace by Forgach Aguilar, had the Warriors up 5-3. A kill by Gianna Anderson sparked a six-point stretch that included an ace by Makenzie Stout, kills by Mortensen and Forgach Aguilar, and a block by the pair that made it 13-11. The duo teamed up at the net once more for a 14-12 advantage.
Kenzie Dean dealt four service aces during a seven-point rally to push the lead to 23-16. Kills by Anderson ended the set with the Warriors in front 25-22.
LC carried its momentum into the third set to a 4-1 lead. Stout opened the frame with an ace, Lindner added a kill and Mortensen and Forgach Aguilar denied Bushnell at the net. A five-point run with a pair of aces by Abbey Neff and a kill by Merrill made it 9-5, but the Beacons gained momentum and took control with a 16-12 lead.
An ace by Esther Kailiponi and kills by Mortensen and Forgach Aguilar brought the Warriors with two, 19-17, but Bushnell rallied to close things out 25-21.
The Beacons maintained control in the fourth frame from the start after jumping out to a 10-4 advantage. The difference grew to 15-5 before the set ended 25-14.
Forgach Aguilar led LC State with 12 kills. Neff led the setters with 12 assists and Sofie Langer added 10. Dean collected 13 digs to go with five aces and four assists. Mortensen led the Warriors at the net with five blocks while Lindner and Forgach Aguilar each put up four.
Bushnell’s Matty Ladd led the match with 14 kills while Leah Agost and Amyah Semau each tallied 11. Katie Belitz dished out 20 assists and Bella Parque collected 17 digs.
UP NEXT
The Warriors hit the road next weekend for matchups at College of Idaho and No. 1 Eastern Oregon.
Stay up to date with all things Warrior Athletics at lcwarriors.com and on social media @LCWarriors.
