LEWISTON, Idaho – Things got a little more interesting for the Beacons on Friday as they dropped back into a tie for fourth-place in the CCC, losing to Lewis-Clark State College in three sets, 27-25, 25-16, 25-20.
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After sweeping the Warriors at home earlier this season, Bushnell met the opposite fate on Friday, hitting .085 and getting out-blocked 10-4. The Beacons had kept things close early, and had two set points in the opener. Giving up three straight points to end the first set deflated the Beacons, who couldn't gain any traction for the rest of the night.
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Bushnell was led by reigning NAIA Player of the Week
Hailey Heider who collected a team-high 12 kills and match-high 20 digs, but hit .023 as she committed 11 errors.
Amyah Semau (pictured) added nine kills and 13 digs and
Leah Agost hit .238 with eight kills.
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The Warriors (15-11, 12-9) were looking for the opportunity to host one of the CCC tournament play-in games on Tuesday night, and they did just that with the win, clinching no worse than a No. 6 seed. They did it behind the most unlikely of sources as Taylin Rowley, who had just 41 kills in nine matches coming in, hit .333 with a match-high 13 kills. Juliauna Forgach Aguilar, one of the best volume attackers in the nation, added 12 kills, hitting .256.
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Bushnell (18-11, 13-8 CCC) is still just one win away from clinching the No. 4 seed for the Cascade Collegiate Conference tournament and the Beacons face off against Walla Walla University at 8:00 pm on Saturday night in the final game of the CCC regular season. The Beacons are now tied once again with No. 23 College of Idaho, who is also looking to take fourth-place and avoid the Tuesday play-in game for the conference tournament. Â Bushnell swept the regular season series from the Yotes to earn the tie-breaker, should the teams end up knotted for the fourth spot in the standings.
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Walla Walla (9-14, 8-13) comes into the finale tied for eighth-place in the CCC and is looking to earn their school's first-ever conference tournament championship qualification with a win.
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