VOLLEYBALL

SPOKANE - Yang Yang had 17 kills, eight blocks and four aces as the North Idaho Cardinals volleyball team defeated Linn-Benton Community College 17-25, 25-16, 25-20, 25-10 in the championship match of the Inland Northwest Communications tournament on Saturday.

"We played very, very steady this weekend," NIC coach Kandice Kelly said. "We're connecting more on offense and I thought we played great defense today. I'm proud of the team for finishing games. We've been making improvements all week and never let down."

Sierra Pancho, who along with Yang was named to the all-tournament first team, had 32 assists as NIC defeated Central Arizona 25-15, 25-20, 25-23 in the semifinals. Janele Vogt was named to the all-tournament second team. Yang had 15 kills, Sabrina Ewing 10 kills and Emily Sarff had 12 digs in the win.

In its final pool play match Saturday morning, NIC beat Blue Mountain 25-19, 25-23, 25-16.

Yang had 13 kills, four blocks and three aces, Emily Sarff 11 digs and Pancho 24 assists for NIC (8-5), which travels to a tournament at Southern Idaho in Twin Falls starting Friday.

MEN'S SOCCER

North Idaho 8

Bismarck State 0

POWELL, Wyo. - Cardinal coaches were able to give lots of players playing time in the one-sided game, and freshman Mike Leptich impressed the coaching staff with a goal and two assists.

"I'm starting to realize he has more speed than I originally thought," NIC coach Ken Thompson said. "He's only 5-8, but he's a much more athletic kid than I realized."

Kiefer Lee scored on both shots he took on goal for NIC (2-1-1), which plays host to Northwest College on Friday. Northwest defeated NIC 4-1 in Powell on Friday.

First half - 1, NIC, Mike Leptich (unassisted), 14:00. 2, NIC, Kiefer Lee (Leptich), 19:00. 3, NIC, Lee (Ryan Krempels), 26:00. 4, NIC, Chad Ward (Leptich), 28:00. Second half - 5, NIC, Matt Lieggi (Jake Selaci), 48:00. 6, NIC, Ruben Amezcua (unassisted), 55:00. 7, NIC, own goal, 59:00. 8, NIC, Krempels (unassisted), 85:00.

Shots on goal - NIC 29, BS 6.

Saves - NIC, Justin Johnson 5; BS Jordan Kenner 7, Elliott Bristow 8.

WOMEN'S SOCCER

North Idaho 8

Bismarck State 0

POWELL, Wyo. - Anna Valentine and Demi Wignot had two goals and two assists apiece as the Cardinals defeated the Mystics in the Northwest College tournament.

"Anna had a great game today," NIC coach Dan Hogan said. "She was able to find the open spots early in the game to get us going scoring-wise in the first half. In the second, she was doing her best to get those players involved that helped her score. She's a real find and we're lucky we picked her up."

Aubree Mercier had two goals for NIC (4-0), which travels to La Grande, Ore., to face Eastern Oregon University on Wednesday.

First half - 1, NIC, Anna Valentine (Hayley Smith, 15:00. 2, NIC, Valentine (Demi Wignot), 23:00. 3, NIC, Aubree Mercier (Adrienne Moore), 37:00. Second half - 4, NIC, Wignot (Valentine), 50:00. 5, NIC, Wignot (Valentine), 53:00. 6, NIC, Carissa Christensen (Wignot), 55:00. 7, NIC, Kellee Tilson (unassisted), 64:00. 8, NIC, Mercier (unassisted), 66:00.

Shots on goal - NIC 33, BS 2.

Saves - NIC, Lauren Gibson 1; BS, Allison Malm 12.