The YVC volleyball team continued its strong early-season play last weekend, going 3-1 at the Idaho Border Challenge. The Yaks improved to 7-2 in the preseason and have won four of their past five matches.

The weekend started with a three-set sweep of Green River (25-8, 25-21, 25-15). Alivia Colbert led the offense with 10 kills, followed by Portlynn Stacey and Vilomena Cavuilati with eight kills each. Adyn Anderson posted a double-double with 15 assists and 10 digs, while Emilee Nelson-Hawkins added 11 assists and Malia Wheeler had 13 digs.

Friday's second match proved to be a much stiffer challenge, with the Yaks falling to host North Idaho 25-22, 25-22, 25-17. Stacey posted a team-high seven kills, Colbert and Cavuilati each had six, and Anderson delivered 16 assists and six digs. Cavuilati paced the defense with eight digs, followed by Nelson-Hawkins with seven.

The Yaks bounced back Saturday morning with a 25-21, 25-9, 25-21 sweep of Carroll College JV. Colbert led a balanced offensive effort with seven kills, while Anderson added six and four others had five. Anderson recorded team-highs of 17 assists and 12 digs, while Nelson-Hawkins produced 14 assists and seven digs.

Saturday's tournament finale pitted YVC against conference foe Spokane, with the Yaks winning in four sets (25-11, 20-25, 26-24, 25-19). Lauren Chamberlain threw down a team-high 13 kills, posting a stellar .385 kill percentage. Colbert delivered eight kills, followed by Stacey and Cavuilati with seven apiece. Nelson-Hawkins and Anderson guided the offense with 15 and 14 assists, respectively, while Mireya Kawaguchi added 15 digs and Anderson had 14.

Prior to the trip to Idaho, the Yaks took care of Pierce 25-21, 26-24, 25-7 at Sherar Gymnasium on Aug. 26. Chamberlain led the offense with 10 kills and Anderson contributed eight to go with 11 assists. Nelson-Hawkins posted a double-double with 15 assists and 11 digs, and Colbert checked in with seven kills and six digs.

Next up, the Yaks will host Skagit Valley in a non-league match Thursday and will travel to Columbia Basin College on Friday and Saturday for the Coach G Memorial Invitational.