Box Score Paul Starkebaum, Sports Information Director

The College of Idaho (19-9, 14-4) Coyotes have been tough all season, and they got the better of the Wolves Saturday night.  It was senior night for the Yotes, and they wanted to go out on a high note.  The Wolves lost in three sets but fought hard all the way to the end.

The Yotes came out hot, with a 11-2 run to open play.  The Wolves got their attacking in line and Maria Darling and Emily each chipped in kills as the play went back and forth for several points. With the score at 17-8, College of Idaho got things rolling again and went on a 7-0 run.  A block by Morgan Doyle and Melissa Barton would be the last points of the match for the Wolves as COI took it 25-11.

The second set featured back and forth play between the teams, and a kill by Maria Darling, assisted by Nilah Mata'afa put the Wolves down only two points at 7-5.  Coyote freshman outside hitter, Ashley Pagan, took control of the set with three straight kills.  Before the Wolves Ashlyn Ghazal was able to break up the run, COI had already jumped out to a 16-6 lead.  The Wolves tried to rally late, but the lead the Yotes had built was already too great, and they took the second set 25-14.

The Wolves have made steady improvement this season.  They have shown toughness, determination and a willingness to play hard for their teammates.  Saturday night was a reflection of that as the third set of the match and last of the season would prove to be the best of the night for the Wolves.  All four of the Wolves seniors, Emily Allen, Maria Darling, Melissa Barton and Ashlyn Ghazal registered a kill in the final set.  The Wolves tied and took the lead several times in the early going, and a setting error from the Yotes tied the score at 9-9 mid way through the match.  COI answered with another big run, scoring six points in a row before a kill by Melissa Barton broke it up.  Maria Darling had back to back kills to put the Wolves down just four points at 23-19.  College of Idaho was just too close to the finish line and the Yotes scored the final two points to take the match 25-19. 

The Wolves were lead in kill by Maria Darling with 9, Krista Schafer lead in assists with 14, Lauren Barlow had 9 digs, and Emily Allen lead the team with 3 blocks.  The Wolves volleyball season has come to a close.  The Cascade Collegiate Conference starts tournament play on Tuesday at home sites.  With the league championship set for next Saturday at Eastern Oregon University.
 
 

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