Area roundup : MVP West guides Cougars to tourney title

Tara West tallied a match-high 16 kills and the Washington State Cougars rolled to a 30-28, 30-17, 30-21 victory over South Dakota State (1-2) on Saturday at the Baden Cougar Challenge in Pullman.

In the day’s first match, Tara West totaled a game-high 13 kills and Jackie Albright and Brittany Johnson added 12 kills apiece to lead the Cougars to a 30-23, 30-20, 27-30, 30-22 win over Northern Colorado (0-3). Kelly Hyrler had 27 digs and Maureen Perez tallied 45 assists for WSU.

Washington State won all three of its matches in the season-opening tournament.

West was named the tournament’s most valuable player. West was joined by Johnson and Perez on the all-tournament team.

“Haley Larson compiled 19 kills and 11 digs and Anna McKinney added 13 kills to lead the Idaho Vandals to a 30-27, 30-25, 30-23 sweep over Northeastern (0-3) at the Cal Molten Classic volleyball tournament in Berkeley, Calif.

In an earlier match, Larsen notched 18 kills, but the Vandals managed just a .191 hitting percentage in falling to 22-30, 15-30, 30-22, 21-30 to Florida International (2-0).

The Vandals are 1-2 after the season-opening tournament.

“Amanda Yausie had 51 assists and a .571 hitting percentage, but it wasn’t enough as the Eastern Washington Eagles (0-3) suffered a 26-30, 30-26, 27-30, 21-30 loss at the hands of Utah State (1-2) at the Sheraton Four Points Wildcat Classic in Tucson, Ariz.

“Elaina Renius had 14 kills and Heather Dunn added 34 assists and nine digs as the Gonzaga Bulldogs (2-1) split a pair of matches on the final day of the Montana Invitational in Missoula with a 30-21, 30-26, 30-24 sweep over Montana (1-2).

UC Irvine piled up 69 kills on its way to a 31-29, 30-25, 25-30, 30-28 win over Gonzaga in the Bulldogs’ first match of the day. Renius led the Bulldogs with 19 kills and a .533 hitting percentage.

Renius and Dunn were both named to the all-tournament team.

Women’s soccer

Ashlee Barton scored on a free kick 18 minutes into the first half and the visiting North Idaho Cardinals made it stand up in a 1-0 victory over Eastern Oregon at La Grande.

Golf

Shaun Murray shot a 4-over-par 75 at Downriver Golf Course to take a lead into the final round of the Odom Spokane City Championship.

Murray’s 141 total leads Pete Caruso by two strokes. Caruso carded an even-par 71. First-round leader Cass Bagley is four strokes off the pace. Bagley, who shot a first-round 64 at Esmeralda, carded an 81.

The tourney concludes today at The Creek at Qualchan Golf Course.