Neumann named to Highline Fall Classic All-Star team

SANDPOINT — Former Bulldog volleyball player Kayla Neumann has wasted little time making her presence known at the next level, earning a spot on the tournament All-Star team last weekend at the Highline Fall Classic in Des Moines, Washington.

Neumann, a 6-foot freshman outside hitter, was one of two North Idaho College players to make the all-tournament team, as the Cardinals went 5-0 to improve their record to 9-2 on the season.

The former 4A All-Inland Empire League Most Valuable Player has earned the respect of head coach Kelsey Stanley, who has one of the stronger NIC teams in recent memory.

“Kayla is so much fun to watch. She is one of the most athletic outsides I have coached,” said Stanley. “The fun thing about Kayla is that she has no idea how much better she can and will be. She’s a big part of our offense and will be for the next two years.”

On Saturday, NIC beat Umpqua 25-19, 25-13, Skagit Valley 25-18, 25-19 and Mt. Hood 25-23, 25-23. That was after sweeping Grays Harbor 25-18, 25-11 and Pierce 25-18, 25-17 on Friday.

“We have an all-around solid group of girls this year, which is always nice,” head coach Kelsey Stanley said. “Not only are our starters solid, but the bench is as well. We have many girls who can and have been able to prove to us that they can put a ball away. Once we get our passing percentage better, we will be hard to stop.”

NIC WILL take on a bit of a challenge this weekend, traveling to Great Falls to compete in the Great Falls tournament against NAIA schools Montana State-Northern, Great Falls, Carroll and Montana-Western.