Colleges: Yaks perfect winning Whatcom title

BELLINGHAM, Wash. — Led by all-tournament players Tori Farias and Danielle Najera, Yakima Valley finished a 7-0 run through the Whatcom Invitational on Saturday, outlasting Lower Columbia 29-27, 20-25, 15-7 in the championship final.

The Yaks, who improved to 14-5, showed the same resilience in the semifinals, overtaking Whatcom 24-26, 25-14, 15-7.

Farias, who was named the tournament MVP, collected 23 kills and 42 digs in three matches on Saturday. Najera piled up 62 digs to lead YVCC’s defense.

YVCC returns to East Region on Wednesday at Spokane.

YVCC highlights: Tori Farias 23 kills, 42 digs; Traci Schweyen 25 kills; Raini Weaver 16 kills; Lauren Smeback 12 kills; Danielle Najera 62 digs; Kylie Huffman 38 assists; Taylor Flores 21 assists.

Saturday’s scores: def. Lower Columbia 25-18, 26-24; def. Whatcom 24-26, 25-14, 15-7; def. Lower Columbia 29-27, 20-25, 15-7.

Central rolls past MSU Billings

ELLENSBURG, Wash. — Meg Ryan had 10 kills, and Erin Smith added nine in a balanced attack and Central Washington cruised past Montana State Billings in a GNAC volleyball match Saturday at Nicholson Pavilion.

Central (2-2 GNAC, 7-4 overall) won 25-9, 25-15, 25-15.

Central highlights: Meg Ryan 10 kills, 10 digs; Erin Smith 9 kills, 2 aces, 2 blocks; Emmy Dolan 6 kills, 2 blocks; Jordan Offutt 6 kills, 5 aces, 3 blocks; Cheltzie Williams 3 kills, 3 blocks; Carlee Marble 6 assists; Chelsie Vea 14 digs; Marcy Hjellum 13 digs.

COLLEGE SOCCER

Western slips past Central

BELLINGHAM, Wash. — Kelly Cates broke a scoreless tie six minutes into the second half and Western Washington hung on for a 1-0 victory over Central Washington in a GNAC women’s soccer match Saturday.

Central (1-1-0 GNAC, 2-2-2 overall) stayed within striking distance despite being outshot 24-2 and playing the final 72 minutes with just 10 players after a red card.

Goalie Kori Butterfield had a big hand in that, making six saves for the Wildcats.

First half: No scoring.

Second half: 1, Western Washington, Kelly Cates, 51:48.

Saves: Kori Butterfeld (CWU) 6, Jamie Arthurs (WWU) 2.

COLLEGE CROSS COUNTRY

Central teams place fourth

BOZEMAN, Mont. — Central Washington University freshman Ryan Thompson finished seventh in the small-school division of the Montana State Invitational on Saturday.

Thompson covered the five-mile course in 26:55.

Both the Central men and women placed fourth. The women were led by Connie Morgan and Ashlee Sincraugh, who were 19th and 20th.