Bruins headed back to Nationals
Zac Hodge
Issue date: 11/11/09 Section: Sports
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Since the Bruins were also the regular season champion the hosted the tournament. Coming in as the one seed the Bruins took on the Snow Badgers in their first game and beat them in four sets: 22-25, 25-11, 25-21, and 25-18. This win propelled them into the championship against the College of Southern Idaho Golden Eagles. The Bruins took the first two sets 25-18 and 25-14. The intermission gave the Eagles a chance to catch their breath and they took sets three and four 22-25. It all came down to the final set of the tournament. The Bruins took down the Eagles 15-11 to advance to the national tournament held this year in Council Bluffs Iowa.
"I'm so excited we should be seeded pretty high and that should help propel us toward the title game," said sophomore middle blocker Lakell Havens.
The tournament began with the third seeded CSI team taking on the six seed Colorado Northwestern Community College. CNCC did not have a region win all year. They wouldn't begin now as the Eagles tore them to shreds 25-3, 25-11, 25-10. With the win CSI advanced to take on the second seeded North Idaho.
The second game featured the fourth seeded College of Eastern Utah Golden Eagles against the Snow Badgers. Snow was able to out last the Eagles 25-18, 19-25, 25-19, 25-21. Tatum Porter of Snow led the way with 14 kills. Snow advanced to take on the top seeded Bruins.
The third game was the aforementioned match up between CSI and NIC. CSI was looking to pull the upset and even the score with the Cardinals. The Cardinals swept the Eagles in both regular season match ups. Coming into the match NIC was having personnel problems as starting outside hitter Fei Gao was sick and could barely function. CSI capitalized on every mistake NIC made and ran them out of the gym in three straight sets 25-22, 25-21, and 25-22. Leading the way for the Eagles was Jessica Peacock who finished the match with 16 kills. CSI advanced to take on the winner of the SLCC and Snow match up.
The Snow versus SLCC match up began terribly for the Bruins. The Badgers came out and were getting to every ball possible and took set one 25-22. The Bruins were able to right the ship and pick off the Badgers in the final three sets 25-11, 25-21, and 25-18. The Bruins were led by sophomore outside hitter Melissa Fifita. Fifita finished the match with 15 kills, only four errors and eight digs. Helping her out was Shelbi Zaldain with 12 kills and Witney Nilson and Erika Carry each banged out 10 kills.
With the four set win the Bruins advanced to the championship game for the second straight year. Last year they lost 3 sets to one to NIC.
For the championship the Bruins and CSI would play their fifth match against each other this year, CSI held a three to one advantage. In set one the Bruins came out swing and stole game on 25-18. The Bruins took the lead with help from Ame' White who had six kills in set one. Set two was the same old song and dance as the Bruins took the two sets to none lead 25-14. Set two was a team effort as the out killed CSI 16- 8. The Bruins headed into intermission with all the momentum.
Set three was the first gut check on the night for the Bruins. After the Bruins came out and jumped to a 14-7 lead CSI went on an 18-8 run to take set three 25-22. The Bruins were hurt by the Eagles serves. The Bruins gave up four service aces in set three. Set four was nose to nose the whole way as the Bruins tied it at 20 with a Zaldain kill. The Eagles however were able to close in a flurry and take set four 25-22. CSI played their best set of the night as they had 18 kills and only three errors. The Bruins were able to keep it close with the help of Zaldain's 5 kills and three kills and block from Havens.
The tournament came down to the final set. The Bruins having lost all the momentum they gained in sets one and two were especially on their heels know as their starting right side hitter Nilson went down with a sprained ankle.
The final set looked like it would come down to the end as they we all tied up at 10. That is when Zaldain stepped in and helped seal the victory with two kill on the final three plays to give the Bruins the 15-11 win. For the match White was the higher pointer with 17 kills, 15 digs, and only three hitting errors. Zaldain finished with 16 kills, four block assists and three hitting errors and the final player in double digit kills was Havens with 14 kills and four block assists. Setter Catalina Charry had 54 setting assists. For CSI it was the All-Conference Peacock with 22 kills to keep CSI close.
"It was great to beat our rivals and we are headed to the national tournament," said an exuberant Havens postgame.
Many postseason award were handed out here are SLCC winner All-Tournament team Ame' White (MVP), Catalina Charry, Erika Charry. All-Region first team Erika Charry, Shelbi Zaldain. All-Region second team LaKell Havens. Honorable Mention All-Region Ame' White, Whitney Nilson.
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