LEWISTON, Idaho – The 2024 Hells Canyon Grand Invitational concluded Friday with a close five-set duel between former Frontier Conference rivals LC State and Carroll College (Mont.). In the first meeting between the two volleyball teams since 2019, the Fighting Saints of Carroll won the contest 3-2 (25-20, 26-28, 25-15, 20-25, 15-7).

“I knew we were going to have a high IQ volleyball program with Carroll on our schedule,” said head coach Katie Palmer. “Coach Boyle does a great job preparing her team. We had to get to know her hitters quicker and again make adjustments on defense. Still, Natany’s 33 saves were well deserved. We’ll be back in the gym on Monday to continue working on a more diverse offense.”

Juliauna Forgach Aguilar had a great performance, leading the match with 26 kills, which ranks seventh all-time in a single match at LC State and is just one spot off her career high. Natany Felix Guimaraes led the competition with 33 digs, a career high that stands at 10.^th– the most in a single match by a Warrior. Both were honored at the Hells Canyon Grand Invitational All-Tournament.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Carroll jumped out to a quick 4-1 lead in the opening set. Kills from Forgach Aguilar, Missy Mortensen and Anna Merrill narrowed the gap to 6-5 and a swing from Taylor Boyce tied the set at 8-8. The two teams traded points until a brief rally saw the Saints take an 18-15 lead. Despite three kills from Forgach Aguilar late in the set, Carroll won the opening set 25-20.

LC State fought back in the second set. The Warriors scored their first four points of the set on kills from Forgach Aguilar to take a 4-2 lead. After a back-and-forth match that was tied six times, Carroll prevailed to take a 15-13 lead. An ace from Abbey Neff tied the score at 16-16 and another from Makenzie Stout made it 18-18. A smash from Forgach Aguilar and an ace from Esther Kailiponi put LC ahead 22-20. But the Saints responded with a rally, taking a 26-25 lead over the Warriors. Back-to-back kills from Hallie Seaman and Forgach Aguilar put LC ahead 28-26 and took the set.

The Fighting Saints regained control with a dominant third set. A kill from Mortensen opened the period, but Carroll quickly took a 12-7 lead. Kills from Forgach Aguilar and Abby Beaton and an ace from Ella Stosich cut the deficit to 13-11, but another push from the Saints helped Carroll take a 22-12 lead and a 25-15 set win.

LC State turned the tables in the fourth frame with a 6-2 opening run. Forgach Aguilar had two kills in the period and assisted on a block by Karissa Lindner and before an ace by Kailiponi. The lead changed midway through the set before two kills by Mortensen and one by Taylin Rowley put LC State ahead 17-15.

The Warriors closed the fourth set on a 6-1 run. Seaman and Forgach Aguilar scored kills during the period and Kailiponi hit an ace to win the set 25-20.

Carroll found his stride again in the deciding set. The Warriors fell behind 4-3 thanks to three kills from Forgach Aguilar, but the Fighting Saints took a comfortable 13-5 lead and finished the final 15-7.

STATISTICAL SUMMARY

Forgach Aguilar led the game with 26 kills on a .220 attack percentage. Mortensen added seven kills (.235). Kailiponi delivered 16 assists and three service aces.

Felix Guimaraes led the game with a career-high 33 saves, Stout added 18 and Gianna Anderson collected a career-high 17 saves. Mortensen assisted on four blocks to lead LC State at the net.

The Warriors won the battle at the net with a total of seven blocks to Carroll’s five and were able to score six aces compared to the Saints’ four.

Next

The Warriors jump into Cascade Conference action next week, beginning with a rematch against Walla Walla (Washington) on Aug. 29 in College Place, Wash. LC State will play five road games before returning home to host Oregon Tech and No. 10 Southern Oregon on Sept. 20 and 21 at the P1FCU Activity Center.