Snow College Athletics

The No. 13 Snow College women's volleyball team faced Colorado Northwestern Community College over the weekend, earning a sweep of the Spartans. Snow College opened the series Friday with a 3-0 victory before earning a 3-1 win Saturday. With the two victories, the Badgers improved to 36-0 all-time against CNCC, 3-1 in Scenic West Athletic Conference play and 13-6 overall.

Friday, the Badgers took the first set 25-13, the second set 25-18 and the third set 25-23. Recording 32 kills, 10 blocks, 44 digs and eight aces. Domi Dudova led the Badgers with nine kills, while Lily Grant recorded 14 assists and Avery Merrill finished with 13 digs. Snow College took an early 4-0 lead in the opening set before extending its advantage to 11-2. The Badgers continued to add to their lead, closing out the set with a 25-13 victory.

The second set was a back-and-forth battle early, with neither team gaining more than a one-point advantage through the opening points. After the teams remained tied at 17-17, the Badgers took a 20-17 lead. Elenoa Lauhingoa recorded a service ace and a kill during the run as the Badgers went on to take the set 25-18.

The third set remained close early before CNCC used a 6-1 run to take a 15-8 lead. The Badgers responded with a strong comeback, scoring 10 of the next 11 points to take an 18-16 advantage. The Spartans battled back to tie the set at 21-21, but the Badgers held on through a tight finish to take the set 25-23 and complete the sweep.

Saturday's match ended in a 3-1 victory for the Badgers. After taking the opening set 25-20, Snow College fell 26-24 in the second set, marking just the fourth set loss against CNCC in program history. The Badgers responded with a 25-12 victory in the third set before closing out the match with a 25-7 win in the fourth.

The Badgers recorded 44 kills, 10 blocks, 71 digs and nine aces. Aleah McDaniel led the Badgers with nine kills, while Lauhingoa and Vaea each recorded four blocks. Halle Smith finished with 11 digs, while Dudova added 10.

CNCC jumped out to an early 4-1 lead in the opening set, but the Badgers battled back to tie the score at 7-7, before scoring seven of the next 10 points to take a 12-9 lead. The Badgers maintained control through the remainder of the set, taking the opening frame 25-20.

The Spartans jumped out to a 6-1 lead in the second set and later held a 12-6 advantage, but the Badgers responded with a 7-0 run to take a 13-12 lead. Dudova helped fuel the Badgers comeback with several kills during the run. The teams remained close through the middle of the set before Snow College used another strong stretch to take a 19-16 lead, with Sydney Short recording back-to-back kills. 

CNCC answered with three straight points to tie the set at 19-19, and the teams battled to 24-24 before the Spartans scored the final two points to take the set 26-24.

The Spartans opened the third set with a 3-0 lead, but the Badgers quickly responded with six straight points to take control. Snow College extended its lead to 15-5 and continued to build on its momentum, closing out the set 25-12.

The Badgers came out strong in the fourth set, scoring the first seven points to take an early 7-0 lead. Snow College continued to control the set, building a 17-5 advantage. CNCC cut the deficit to 17-8 before the Badgers closed the set with seven straight points, including back-to-back service aces from Grant, to secure a 25-7 victory.

The Badgers will face Utah State University Eastern Friday and Saturday inside the Horne Activity Center in Ephraim. The Eagles enter the weekend with a 9-8 overall record and a 2-0 mark in conference play. USUE most recently faced No. 12 College of Southern Idaho, splitting a pair of matches, falling 3-0 before earning a 3-1 victory. For video streaming and live stats information, visit snowbadgers.com.