LEWISTON, Idaho – The NCU volleyball team dropped two matches on Saturday to UC Merced, closing out the Red Lion Classic. The difficult results were not without a silver lining, however, as the Beacons moved to a new formation, making way for sophomore Laurie Salness to post the third triple-double in NCU history.
 
The Beacons played a hybrid 6-2 system in the first match against the Bobcats with some positive results, winning their first set of the season before losing 26-24, 25-23, 15-25, 27-25. Salness ended the match with 23 assists, 19 digs and ten kills for the triple-double, joining Taylor Burnett who had a pair of the statistical anomalies last season. She also led all players with a .350 attack percentage.
 
Also shining bright in the first match was Kendall Bergsten, collecting a team season-high 19 kills along with 14 digs and three service aces. Cassidy Winters and Burnett each added nine kills with Winters also posting a season-high five blocks including two solo efforts. Marsha Poischbeg had a notable match as well with 12 digs and 22 assists.
 
NCU advanced to face UC Merced again in the third-place game, falling in three sets 25-21, 25-12, 25-23. Winters led the Beacons with 11 kills and Salness had another strong match hitting .313 with ten assists, ten digs and six kills. Bergsten threw in eight kills, eight digs and two aces for good measure.
 
At the conclusion of the event, Salness was named to the All-Tournament team as NCU's lone selection.
 
The Beacons will return to action on Wednesday, heading across town to take on New Hope Christian College at  7:00 p.m.