TWIN FALLS, Idaho - The College of Southern Idaho Volleyball team trailed two sets to none and looked poised to fall in straight sets to Salt Lake CC for the second time this season. But the Golden Eagles didn't give up, pushing the match to the limit before eventually falling 25-12, 25-23, 19-25, 21-25, 17-15.
After hitting .000 in the first set and unable to get anything going, CSI switched its libero Jojo Kruize to outside hitter and inserted Makayla Bradford into the lineup at libero.
It made a significant different as the Golden Eagles battled back and forth all set before losing it by just two points. The momentum carried into the next two sets as the Golden Eagles tied the match up, forcing set five.
It looked like Salt Lake was going to run away with the fifth set, taking a 11-7 and then a 13-10 lead.
But the Golden Eagles had other plans. A kill by Airi Miyabe followed by a block by Jasmyn Keohohina-Malina and E'laisah Young and another kill by Miyabe tied up the set.
Keohohina-Malina and Young combined for another block to give CSI match point. But two straight kills for Salt Lake gave the Bruins the advantage again at 15-14. Keohohina tooled the block to tie the set at 15 apiece before two straight Golden Eagle attack errors ended the match in favor of Salt Lake.
Keohohina-Malina led CSI with 21 kills and 11 digs. Miyabe added 13 kills, 10 digs and four blocks. Bradford finished with 22 digs, while Morgan Weatherwax had 58 assists and 15 digs.
The Salt Lake block wreaked havoc for CSI all night as the Bruins out-blocked the Golden Eagles 20 to 10.
CSI falls to 23-3 overall and 6-2 in Scenic West Athletic Conference play. The loss puts the Golden Eagles into a three-way tie for first place with Salt Lake and Snow. If they end the season in a tie, CSI would enter the tournament as the three-seed and Snow College would host the tournament.