CALDWELL, Idaho – The Bushnell volleyball team was still in search of a signature win and they got just that on Saturday evening in one of the most hostile environments in the Cascade Collegiate Conference as they took a road win from No. 12-ranked College of Idaho, 22-25, 25-21, 25-22, 23-25, 15-9.
 
"This is always a hard travel weekend for every team in our conference, facing an undefeated Eastern Oregon and an always-tough College of Idaho," said Head Coach Jason Corwin. "I am proud of how we responded tonight after a tough loss to EOU. We can build off this win tonight while we get ready for another tough weekend coming up.
 
The Beacons (10-6, 4-2 CCC) also got the five-set monkey off of their backs after dropping three straight such contests in the preseason. Even a 7-0 lead in the fifth-set couldn't have felt comfortable for Bushnell with the ghosts of a 13-7 lead in an eventual loss to Embry-Riddle back in August.
 
The Beacons, however, held on this time, finishing off a match that saw the visitors hold an 81-70 advantage in points scored including a season-high 14 blocks.  
 
Coach Corwin said, "We were comfortable going to a fifth set having been our fourth of the season already. I'm glad we kept some momentum going into the fifth tonight in a tough gym in front of a loud crowd, playing our game to the finish."
 
Leah Agost led the Bushnell offense for the second straight night with a match-high 16 kills, adding five blocks. "I am so proud of what we accomplished tonight," said Agost. "We stayed consistent through the entire match and played as one. We worked hard and it paid off. I love these girls and I am so excited for the rest of the season."
 
Hailey Heider added 15 kills and two of Bushnell's five service aces while freshman Teagan Dixon earned career-highs with ten kills and four blocks. Not to be out-done, Soliel Sand became just the fifth player in Bushnell history and first since 2022 to post at least ten blocks in a match.
 
Emma Fa'alogo earned a double-double with 32 assists and 13 digs while Kailey Shirley registered a team-leading 19 digs. Fa'alogo said, "It is such a reward seeing the fight and grit on the court. All of our hard work in practice is paying off and the momentum helped us earn each individual point, especially to close out the match. Our hustle and just having the mindset of 'no ball drops' made it a successful and rewarding game."
 
"Seeing the growth of this team in and out of practice to get us this win is incredible," added Shirley. "I am so blessed to be a part of this team."
 
The Yotes (9-4, 3-3) drop their eighth home game to the Beacons in their last nine tries. They were led in defeat by Mia Hutchinson with 16 kills and Liza Montalbo with a match-high 22 digs.
 
UP NEXT: Another difficult road trip lies on the horizon as the Beacons travel next Friday to take on No. 25-ranked Southern Oregon (6-7, 3-3). On Saturday the team travels to face Oregon Tech (7-6, 1-5).