Defensive strengths, offensive woes

North Idaho sweeps Lady Vikings in dominant fashion

MOSES LAKE - Michael De Hoog said Alona Lyamin flew all over the court.

Her ability to make plays on Big Bend's defensive front, allowed offense attempts at North Idaho College, if nothing more. But, the Cardinals' ability to shut down the Lady Vikings' offense proved itself with a 3-0 (30-21, 30-15, 30-28) sweep Tuesday.

"Alona did a great job and made some great emergency plays," De Hoog said. "She is kind of flying all over the place to keep the play going."

Lyamin prevented North Idaho from breaking the game open, more than once, with her constant control of the back row for the Lady Vikings. Her 16-dig performance allowed Big Bend to stay alive against a team, De Hoog said, had more advantages all-around.

Starting with the height.

"You can't coach height," De Hoog said. "It is nothing that we did, they are so dynamic athletically, you can't coach height."

Height proved to be a problem, along with the Cardinals' ability to prevent the Vikings from maintaining a serve possession throughout the first two games.

Jen Nagy and Kelsie Jones put together two serve combinations of three attempts each with three points due to North Idaho errors.

The Cardinals built its first lead of game one behind Chanele Larsen, a 6-foot-1 middle-hitter, who served six straight points for North Idaho, including an ace for a 10-4 lead.

The Lady Vikings slowly chipped away at the Cardinal lead, but fell to a dominant 30-21.

Larsen and North Idaho continued to frustrate Big Bend's chances in game two, 5-0 lead to open the game. The Cardinal built a double-digit lead toward the end of the game, before putting an end to the game with a 30-15 win.

De Hoog said there was no frustration from the Lady Vikings, who were working on a new defensive alignment in the non-league matchup.

"I think our girls knew what they were doing, but it wasn't second nature yet, it was close," De Hoog said.

But, the third game told a different story. The Lady Vikings pulled off not one, but two separate leads in the game, something they couldn't do in the previous two games.

"I think we played the emotional card a little more in game three and that is our strong suit," De Hoog added.

North Idaho started with the lead, but Big Bend held on this time and didn't allow the "dynamic" nature of the Cardinals put the Lady Vikings away.

Two unforced errors by North Idaho handed Big Bend its first lead, which they tended to before the Cardinals could tie the game, then take the lead at 11-10. Then, North Idaho looked ready to put the game away with a 15-10 lead, but Big Bend never gave in.

The Lady Vikings forced the Cardinals to give up unforced errors, which gave Big Bend a 25-22 lead, which they maintained before a late rally from the Cardinals tied the game at 28-28 and force Big Bend into a timeout.

Collese Dornan regained the lead for North Idaho with a block and Jones clinched the victory for the Cardinals by sending a game-tying kill into the net.

"Things didn't totally go our way, but that is athletics," De Hoog said.