CALDWELL, Idaho – Concluding Cascade Collegiate Conference pod play Saturday in Caldwell, Idaho, Warner Pacific University took on host College of Idaho for a pair of games. The Knights put up a fight but fell in three both times [(25-18, 25-14, 25-17) and (28-26, 25-14, 25-15)].
 
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The Rundown
College of Idaho jumped out to a 6-2 lead in the first set of the day, but WPU put together a 4-1 run to get back in it. 'Alohilani Keola sparked the run with a kill and Grace Buchanan served up an ace to put the Knights within one, 7-6.
 
A kill from Buchanan and a Coyote error put the Knights in front by two, 17-15, before College of Idaho called a timeout. The Yotes fired back and went on a 10-1 run to take the first set.
 
Momentum carried into the second set as C of I once again took an early 9-1 lead. Warner Pacific tried to claw back in it, but the Coyotes proved to be too much and won the set 25-14.
 
Determined to keep the match going, WPU came out and scored the first two points of the third, but College of Idaho pulled in front by five, 14-9. Buchanan got another run going for the Knights as they scored five-straight points to tie the set at 14-14. The Coyotes managed to pull away again, however, and held on for a 25-17 set victory to take the match.
 
Warner Pacific showed its grit in the second match, once again coming from behind. Trailing 17-14, the Knights took advantage of some College of Idaho errors before Bethany McKnight and Tevlin Britten teamed up for a stuff to tie the set 17-17.
 
The Knights reached set point first, 24-23, but the Coyotes scored back-to-back points to switch momentum. Buchanan kept the set going with a kill, but College of Idaho ultimately won the set 28-26.
 
C o I jumped in front again in the second, but this time wouldn't let the Knights to keep it close and finished the set with a 25-14 victory. Warner Pacific fought back in the third, but couldn't overcome an eight-point deficit, dropping the set 25-15 to fall in three sets.
 
Deeper Look
Buchanan led the Knights a game-high 14 kills in the first set and followed with 10 in the second. Matalasi Laban fueled the offense with 24 assists in the first matchup and posted 22 in the nightcap. Mercedes Massey tallied 25 digs on the day, with 14 in the second match.

Flash Forward
With pod play [hopefully] done, the CCC schedule is set to resume its home-and-away slate from here out. WPU stays close to home next, taking on Multnomah University on March 19.