PORTLAND, Ore. – Warner Pacific defeated College of Idaho for the first time in 38 tries tonight at C.C. Perry Gym, keeping their playoff hopes alive with two weeks remaining in CCC volleyball play.
 
The Basics

• Score: Warner Pacific 3, College of Idaho 2 (16-25, 25-21, 25-19, 20-25, 17-15)
• Records: WPC 9-10 (7-9 CCC), COI 15-9 (10-6 CCC)
• Location: C.C. Perry Gym, Portland, Ore.
• The Short Story:  The Knights and Coyotes battled for five tense sets, with host Warner Pacific coming out on top in thrilling fashion. It was a result a long time in the making as WPC had not defeated the ladies from Caldwell in 38 straight matches, and additionally, not since resurrecting the volleyball program in 2001. The Knights took set five 17-15 in a thriller, and needed 15 kills to do it as the Yotes made them earn every point. Amazingly, that total of kills was more than any of the previous four sets that went the full 25 points. Janessa Mast led WP with 21 kills, including five in the deciding frame. Janessa White delivered six kills in set five, and 18 for the match. Brenna Meehan paced C of I with a match high 22 kills.

How it Happened

• The initial action on the court looked to continue the trend between the two programs, as the Yotes turned a 5-5 tie into a 17-8 lead in set one.
• The Knights rallied to make the score 20-16, but C of I scored the final five points to draw first blood..
• WP's fortunes changes in set two, but the outcome was in doubt until the end. With the Knights leading 21-20, White pounded home two kills around two errors from COI to take the frame 25-21.
• Set three belonged to Warner Pacific from the beginning, and a 15-5 lead seemed safe. It didn't turn out that way as the Yotes managed to draw to within 23-19.
• White put down another kill at that point, and a ball handling error from C of I gave the frame to WPC. 
• Any chance for the Knights to close out the match was nullified in set four, as serve reception became unsure and the Yotes ran out to a 20-12 lead. 
• C of I nearly let the home team back into the set with three unforced errors and WP closed the gap to 23-19, but Ashley Pagan swung for a kill to prolong the match.
• Mast and White were the story of set five, and the duo collected 11 of the teams 15 kills in the frame thanks to steady setting from Kealia Rosa. 
• The Knights survived match point at 14-13 by way of a White winner, then a block from Jordan Hunter and Lauren Jones gave WP a 15-14 lead.
• Meehan drilled a shot to stave off match point for the Yotes, but Mast rose up for two consecutive kills to give the set and match to Warner Pacific.