OMAHA, Neb. - 24 William Carey wrapped up play in the CSM Labor Day Classic, falling in five sets to #18 College of Idaho but rebounded in their final match of the tournament defeating Hastings (Neb.) in straight sets.
 
Carey came out quickly in the first set against the Yotes, taking an early 10-6 lead. Idaho responded with the next three points to get back within one point, but the Lady Crusaders quickly answered. Back-to-back kills by Agnes Hegardt and Katarina Vulic followed by a service ace jump started a 9-2 run to help Carey seize control of the set.
 
The Lady Crusaders took any hope of a rally away from the Yotes, closing the set with six straight points with three kills, two blocks, and a service ace accounting for the points.
 
Set two saw Idaho take the early lead slowly building an 11-7 advantage. Carey stayed focused, slowly chipping away at the lead, eventually taking an 18-16 lead. However, the Yotes regrouped, retaking the lead behind a 6-0 run. WCU halted the run, picking up kills by Alyssa Portee and Sofia Bettini to cut the deficit to 23-21. Idaho secured the next two points to even things at one set apiece.
 
Set three saw a back-and-forth battle early on with each looking for the spark to take control. With the set tied at ten all, it was the Yotes that found that spark first in the form of a 9-2 run. Carey regained their footing, halting the run and quickly erased the deficit.
 
A kill by Riley Carter sparked a 10-0 run by the Lady Crusaders. During the run, Carey recorded six kills and two blocks with an ace and an attack error accounting for the other two points to put WCU ahead 22-19. Idaho broke the run, picking up the next two points but Carey kept the momentum going, as Bettini picked up the next point with a kill. Carter and Natalie Bartholomew put Carey within one point of victory with a block with Bartholomew securing the win with a kill.
 
Set four started just like the third with both teams jockeying for an opportunity to take control of the set. With Carey leading 19-17, The Yotes rattled off five straight points to take a three-point lead. Back-to-back errors by Idaho put WCU within one but the Yotes kept their hopes alive, winning three out of the next four points.
 
The Yotes jumped out early on the Lady Crusaders in set five, taking an early 6-2 lead. WCU settled back in, closing the gap to just two points on multiple occasions only to see Idaho pull away again. With the score 12-10 in favor of Idaho, the Yotes secured the next three points to seal the five-set victory.
 
In their match against the Broncos, both started the first set off trading shots, until the Lady Crusaders used a 6-1 run to pull away to a 14-8 advantage. Hastings slowed the run and fought their way back to tie the set on two different occasions with the last being at 20 all. That would be the last points of the set for the Broncos, as WCU took advantage of two errors, a block, and kills by Hegardt and Bartholomew to seal the 25-20 win.
 
Carey jumped all over Hastings to start the second set, racing out to a 10-3 lead. It was all WCU from there, as they pulled away to an 18-9 advantage before going on to take the set 25-12.
 
The back and forth from the first set resumed in the third set. That was the case until with the score 11-9 in favor of the Broncos, the Lady Crusaders seized control of the set behind a 7-0 run and never looked back, cruising to a 25-19 win.
 
Carey is back in action Tuesday, September 2, as they return home for their home opener against Dillard University. Play is set to begin at 6:00 p.m. at the Ben Waddle Complex.