VOLLEYBALL

TAYLORSVILLE, Utah — The North Idaho College volleyball team knew it had a tough task on the opening weekend of Scenic West Athletic Conference play, with matches at the top-ranked College of Southern Idaho in Twin Falls on Friday, then a matinee at seventh-ranked Salt Lake on Saturday.

After upsetting top-ranked CSI on Friday in five games, the Cardinals came up short of a second upset in as many days, falling 25-12, 25-18, 25-20 to the Bruins.

“We expected this to be the toughest weekend of the season,” said NIC coach Kelsey Stanley, whose team arrived in Salt Lake at 2:30 a.m. MDT for a 1 p.m. start on Saturday. “We got in late, but we’ve still got to bounce back. We’ll need to be able to do this all season. We’re going to have to compete both days.”

Brenna Meehan had 10 kills and nine digs and Brittany Gay 26 digs for NIC (9-11, 1-1 SWAC). Matilda Altin added eight kills, Brooke Bell six for the Cardinals. Penny Gwynn and Hannah Christianson had eight digs each.

Salt Lake is 13-6, 1-1.

NIC plays host to Utah State-Eastern on Friday night, and hosts Colorado Northwestern on Saturday, in Scenic West play.

MEN’S SOCCER

Wenatchee Valley 4

North Idaho 3

WENATCHEE, Wash. — Kade Murphree had a goal and an assist, but the Cardinals still lost a close Northwest Athletic Conference game against the Knights.

“We had two starters late for the bus,” North Idaho College Ken Thompson said. “So they were not in the starting lineup. We made some other changes and it didn’t come together the right way. When you do that, you’re not in the best position to succeed. We had several opportunities. When you wait until the 70th minute to start playing, you’re not getting off on the right foot.”

Freshman forward Alec Maldonado, who like Murphree played at Lake City, scored in the 55th minute to cut Wenatchee Valley’s lead to 3-2. But Joel Villa, who also had an assist, scored in the 80th to keep things out of reach for NIC (4-3-2, 2-1-2 NWAAC), before an own goal cut it to one against Wenatchee Valley (4-3, 2-3).

NIC plays at Treasure Valley on Wednesday.

First half — 1, Wen, Jason Morales (Hernan Mendoza), 10:00. 2, Wen, Jonathan Rodriguez (Joel Villa), 21:00. 3, NIC, Kade Murphree (penalty kick), 30:00. Second half — 4, Wen, Jorge Lara (unassisted), 47:00. 5, NIC, Alec Maldonado (Murphree), 55:00. 6, Wen, Villa (unassisted), 80:00. 7, NIC, own goal, 85:00.

Shots on goal — NIC 9, Wen 13.

Saves — NIC, Mitch Markovetz 2, Tanner Horton 3. Wen, Alan Garo 2.

WOMEN’S SOCCER

North Idaho 0

Trinity Lutheran 0

EVERETT, Wash. — Cassandra Van Der Mey and Tiegan Horton had three saves each for the Cardinals in a nonconference draw with the Eagles of the NAIA.

“We started off a little sluggish,” NIC coach Dan Hogan said. “But not unexpected since we just drove the six hours to Everett and jumped out of the vans to warm up and play.”

NIC (3-3-1) resumes Northwest Athletic Conference play at Treasure Valley on Wednesday.

First half — none. Second half — none.

Shots on goal — NIC 14, TL 8.

Saves — NIC, Cassandra Van Der Mey 3, Tiegan Horton 3; TL, Jessica Smith 7.