College roundup: GU, WSU, UI enjoy a winning Saturday in volleyball

Gonzaga completed a perfect weekend at the Utah Classic, defeating the host Utes plus Idaho State on Saturday, opening the volleyball season with a 3-0 mark in winning the tournament.

Emmy Allen had 29 kills against Utah and 19 versus Idaho State. McKayla Ferris had 18 kills and 13 digs against the Utes (1-2 after defeating Butler in the night’s final match) and 22 kills and 14 digs against the Bengals (0-3).

Ferris was named MVP and Allen and Faith Smith were chosen for the all-tournament team.

Kyra Holt had 18 kills and Washington State (2-1) took a 25-16, 21-25, 25-14, 25-20 win over Wyoming (0-3) and the championship trophy at the Purdue Mortar Board Premier tournament in West Lafayette, Indiana.

Also Saturday, No. 24 Kentucky upset No. 20 Purdue. Since Kentucky, WSU and Purdue all finished with 2-1 records, the deciding factor for the championship trophy was the winning percentage among tied teams.

Holt was named the tournament MVP with teammates Hailey Bethune and Taylor Mims named to the all-tournament team.

Sarah Sharp had 16 kills and five blocks, Kaela Straw added 13 kills and Idaho took a 25-27, 25-22, 25-22, 14-25, 15-11 victory over host New Mexico (2-1) in the Vandals’ final match at the UNM Invitational in Albuquerque.

Idaho is off to its first 3-0 start since going 5-0 to begin the 2004 season.

Eastern Washington dropped its first matches of the season, losing to fifth-ranked Kansas 25-13, 25-15, 25-21 before falling to host Mississippi State 25-15, 25-19, 25-22 on the final day of the Bulldog Invitational in Starkville, Mississippi.

In their first match, the Eagles (1-2) hit only .010 against the Jayhawks (2-0), who were a final four team last season.

EWU hit just .094 in the loss to Mississippi State (2-1).

Megan LaFond had 27 digs and Ashley Seiler had 24 in the two matches for EWU.

CC Spokane went 4-0 on the first day of the NWAC Fall Festival in Springfield, Oregon.

The Sasquatch defeated Olympic, Lower Columbia and Southwestern Oregon by 2-0 scores and Clark 2-1.

North Idaho College went 3-1. The Cardinals defeated Chemeketa and Walla Walla by 2-1 scores and Tacoma 2-0. They lost to Highland 2-0.

The event concludes today with NIC and CCS both scheduled for two matches.

Soccer

The CC Spokane Sasquatch and North Idaho Cardinals women’s teams picked up victories at the NWAC Fall Festival in Springfield, Oregon.

The Sasquatch defeated Highline 2-0 with goals from Erica Simpson and Sydney Weiler while Molly Webster made eight saves in the shutout.

The Cardinals got an unassisted goal from Jocelyn Cook-Cox from 30 yards out in the 84th minute in their 1-0 win over Bellevue.

Also at the festival, the North Idaho men got goals from Muganza Katanga and Garrett Flolo before Ariaan Cardenas scored twice to give Everett a 2-2 tie.

CCS lost to Highline 2-0.

The event concludes Sunday.