Columbia Basin needed one set to settle in and two to finish. The Hawks beat Blue Mountain 25-18, 25-14, 25-8 on Friday night and started conference play 1-0.
The Timberwolves were competitive for about half of the opening set. They took a 10-5 lead and drew a timeout from CBC. The Hawks then outscored them 20-8 the rest of the way. Addisen Ford was central to the turnaround. She recorded blocks on consecutive Blue Mountain swings and added kills on two of the Hawks' next three points. Katy Ball's service ace ended the set.
Set two was about consistency. Setter Yahairi Sanchez kept the offense moving, and the Hawks led throughout the middle of the set. Kennedy Rose and Lexi Rupel took most of the swings. Rose's kills built an 8-16 lead by mid-set, and Rupel added kills of her own. Blue Mountain trailed 20-14 and never scored again. Columbia Basin closed the set on five straight points.
The third set was the cleanest of the night. Columbia Basin scored eight consecutive points early, taking a 9-1 lead, and Blue Mountain called timeout. The Hawks made 15 kills in 24 attempts with no errors, a .625 hitting percentage. Blue Mountain scored eight points in the set.
Hitting percentage by set tells the story of the match: .306 in the first, .423 in the second and .625 in the third. For the night, Columbia Basin recorded 44 kills against seven errors on 86 attempts for a .430 mark. Blue Mountain hit .022 with 17 errors.
Rose led the attack with 13 kills and one error on 26 swings. Ford was the most efficient of the front-row players, with 11 kills, one error and a .526 hitting percentage. She also had three solo blocks and three block assists, for 15.5 points. Eva Biladeau added five kills without an error, plus three block assists. Jacque Williams had five kills on eight attempts. Sanchez finished with 36 assists.
The back row held up as well. Columbia Basin totaled 46 digs, and Danika Koch led the team with 11. As a group the Hawks blocked six balls and served three aces.
CBC will host Spokane at home this coming Wednesday as they look to remain undefeated in league play. First serve scheduled for 6pm on Holden Court.
