(Longview, WA) Lower Columbia and South Puget Sound entered the match on November 6 with both teams having already secured a spot in the NWAC Championship playoffs, but with third-place seeding on the line.
The Red Devils, driven by an energetic home crowd at Myklebust Gymnasium, edged out the Clippers in a tense five-set match, solidifying their spot as the No. 3 seed for the upcoming NWAC regionals in Pasco, WA, on November 16.
The game saw momentum shifts, with South Puget Sound taking the first and third sets, but Lower Columbia countered in the second and fourth. The Red Devils ultimately emerged victorious in a nail-biting fifth set, winning 16-14 and wrapping up the match with scores of 21-25, 25-19, 22-25, 25-22, and 16-14.
Offensive leaders
Samantha Farland and
Kenny Collins were instrumental for Lower Columbia. Farland led with 21 kills, while Collins added 18 kills and an imposing five blocks, helping the team take control at crucial points.
Red Devils put up an impressive collective performance across multiple facets of the game. As a team, they recorded 52 kills, offset by 38 errors on 196 total attempts, finishing with a .071 hitting percentage. Their blocking game was strong, with the Red Devils combining for 11 total blocks, including six solo blocks and ten block assists, which helped them stymie the South Puget Sound offense at crucial points.
The Red Devils also excelled defensively, racking up 95 digs, led by
Madi Noel and
Kenny Collins, each contributing 23 digs. On the serve, Lower Columbia added pressure with seven service aces, although they committed 11 service errors. Setter
Allison Orantes kept the offense running smoothly, tallying 22 assists, while
Charissa Schierman added 17 assists of her own, helping set up the team's offensive leaders.
With this well-rounded team performance, the Red Devils head into the NWAC regionals with momentum and confidence, eyeing a strong postseason run.
