Dec. 2, 2009

SIOUX CITY, Iowa - Eighth-seeded College of Idaho and fifth-seeded Azusa Pacific (Calif.) were victorious in Pool E Wednesday in the second day of pool play action at the NAIA Volleyball National Championship Presented by Siouxland Sports Medicine Foundation in the Tyson Events Center/Gateway Arena.

The College of Idaho dropped the first set 21-25 to Lewis-Clark State (Idaho), but stormed back to win the next three and the match, 25-10, 25-18, 25-20. Behind the performances of Ciciley Fox and Kathryn Ely, the Coyotes improved to 2-0 in Pool E. Fox tallied 12 kills and was followed closely by Ely with 11. The duo of Naomi Reimer and Madie Machurek directed the offense with 26 and 22 assists, respectively. Machurek finished with a double-double by also registering 22 digs, but it was Whitney Owen who provided 41 digs to fend off Lewis-Clark State's attack. Anile Clemente notched a match-high 14 kills for the Warriors in the loss.

Azusa Pacific's Jill Baker and Amy Alkazin each posted double-figure kill marks as the Cougars cruised past Doane (Neb.) in straight sets, 25-23, 25-11, 25-18, to improve to 2-0 in Pool E. The loss drops Doane to 0-2. Baker posted a match-high 15 kills, but it was Alakazin's 11-of-15 and .733 hitting percentage that paced the Cougars to victory. As a team, Azusa Pacific hit .349 and hit .500 in the third set. Raechel Jones had 27 assists and Sophie Burns also dished out 16. The defense was led by Robin Portela's 22 digs. Doane's Terra Andreasen had 10 kills.

Pool E will wrap up with Azusa Pacific taking on College of Idaho at 5:45 p.m., followed by Lewis-Clark State and Doane facing off at 8 p.m.