COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa - Heading into this weekend's volleyball tournament at Iowa Western CC, the top-ranked College of Southern Idaho Volleyball team knew it would have a huge learning curve with such a young team. By the fourth match and many different lineup changes, the Golden Eagles put together their best match of the weekend last, beating San Jacinto 25-23, 25-18, 25-16 after falling to #4 Iowa Western 25-23, 25-15, 20-25, 25-21.
CSI sophomore Marija Djonovic was able to get the middles involved and that was the difference against San Jacinto. Djonovic, who finished with 40 assists, consistently fed the ball to Jasmyn Keohohina-Malina and Shiloh Peleras. Peleras finished with eight kills and just one error and Keohohina-Malina added 10 kills with no errors.
Alycia Wodke again led the Eagles as she had done all weekend, posting 11 kills and 13 digs. Playing libero for the first time this weekend, Esti Wilson finished with a team-high 20 digs.
Against Iowa Western, the Golden Eagles battled point for point with Iowa Western in game one before struggling to find any consistency in the second game. CSI found some fire in game three, finishing with 15 kills and just two errors. The Golden Eagles took an early lead in game four but couldn't hold on to force a fifth set.
Four CSI players finished the match with double-digit kills, led by Alycia Wodke's 15. Shilo Peleras addd 14 and Jasmyn Keohohina-Malina and Jojo Kruize each posted 13. Kruize added a team-high 13 digs.
The Golden Eagles travel to Salt Lake Friday for a two-day tournament where they will have a second chance against #4 Iowa Western and #2 Western Nebraska. The Cougars went undefeated on the weekend, going five sets with San Jacinto and Iowa Western in their wins.