VOLLEYBALL

RANGELY, Colo. - North Idaho College, ranked fifth in the NJCAA, made short work of Colorado Northwestern, winning 25-8, 25-13, 25-12 on Saturday to capture the No. 1 seed and the right to host the Region 18 volleyball tournament next weekend.

NIC (21-8, 8-2 SWAC) finished tied for first with Salt Lake, but earned the tiebreaker over the Bruins because they swept third-place Southern Idaho, while Salt Lake split with CSI.

Yang Yang had 15 kills for NIC, which bounced back from getting swept the previous night by Utah State-Eastern.

NIC will play either Snow or Utah State-Eastern in the semifinals Friday at 7 p.m. at NIC, with the winner securing a berth to nationals.

WRESTLING

MSU-Northern 22

North Idaho 19

COEUR d'ALENE - After losing Caleb Rivera to an injury, it wound up costing the Cardinals a nonconference match against the Lights at Christianson Gym.

Leading with 15 seconds remaining, Evan Hinebauch of Montana State-Northern turned Rivera in an attempt to score a late point to tie the match. The result was a dislocated elbow, and a nine point swing on the scoreboard.

Kody Reed scored a major decision over Justin Korthius that proved to be the difference as the NAIA Montana State-Northern Lights of Havre beat North Idaho in a nonconference dual.

NIC hosts Highline Community College on Saturday at 7:30 p.m.

MONTANA STATE-NORTHERN 22, NORTH IDAHO 19

125 - Joaquin Calderon, NIC, d. Riley Miller, 6-2. 133 - Mike Carreon, NIC, by forfeit. 141 - Jarrett Morrill, NIC, md. Hunter Azure, 10-2. 149 - Anthony Weerheim, MSN, d. Bryce McMahon, 8-1. 157 - Ryan Zumwalt, NIC, d. Edward Cheff, 12-5. 165 - Ethan Hinebauch, MSN, p. Wilhelm Viljoen Meyer, 4:49. 174 - Jared Miller, MSN, d. Kyle Sweedman, 9-2. 184 - Kody Reed, MSN, md. Justin Korthius, 12-4. 197 - Evan Hinebauch, MSN, d. Caleb Rivera, injury default. 285 - Matthew Foxworthy, NIC, d. Nick King, 5-3.

MEN'S SOCCER

Clark College 5

North Idaho 0

VANCOUVER, Wash. - David Casaras scored three second-half goals as the Penguins beat the Cardinals in a nonconference match.

NIC (6-7-3) will face the winner of the Pima-Northwest match in the West District Finals on Saturday in Tucson, Ariz., with the winner advancing to the NJCAA tournament.

First half - 1, CC, Martin Reyes (unassisted), 2:00. Second half - 2, CC, David Casaras (Lamar Anderson), 52:00. 3, CC, Casaras (unassisted), 61:00. 4, CC, Taj Rockitt (Jose Vergara), 76:00. 5, CC, Casaras (unassisted), 89:00.

Shots on goal - NIC 7, CC 16.

Saves - NIC, Justin Johnson 8; CC, Tyler Luebbert 1, Armondo Sanchez 1.

WOMEN'S SOCCER

North Idaho 7

Idaho club 0

MOSCOW - Aubree Mercier scored a hat trick as NIC closed out the regular season with an easy victory over the Idaho club team.

Anna Valentine added two goals and an assist for the Cardinals (14-1-1), ranked eighth in the NJCAA. Carissa Christensen had a goal and an assist.

NIC now prepares for the District B playoff this weekend in Kansas.

First half - 1, NIC, Anna Valentine (Carissa Christensen), 6:00. 2, NIC, Valentine (Demi Wignot), 21:00. 3, NIC, Aubree Mercier (Nicole Medeiros), 29:00. 4, NIC, Aubree Mercier (unassisted), 39:00. Second half - 5, NIC, Mercier (unassisted), 51:00. 6, NIC, Christensen (unassisted), 65:00. 7, NIC, Stevie Harris (Valentine), 75:00.

Shots on goal - NIC 30, UI 6.

Saves - NIC, Lauren Gibson 1, Hannah Slinkard 1, Allysa Howell 1. UI - not available.