Oct. 16, 2003
Stats
Flagstaff, AZ--Idaho State University rallied from a game down to defeat Northern Arizona University in dramatic fashion, 30-24, 27-30, 26-30, 31-29, 15-13, in Big Sky Conference Volleyball action at the Rolle Activity Center Thursday.
After winning game one 30-24, the Bengals dropped games two and three by scores of 30-27 and 30-26 to put ISU on the brink of defeat. But the Bengals rallied from the brink to win game four. At one time ISU was down 29-26 before winning the last five points of the game to win and send it to a deciding game five. The final game was close throughout with numerous ties before the Bengals finally took the lead late and held on for a 15-13 win.
ISU was playing from behind in one respect throughout Thursday night's match as Ali Gorny, the conference's leader in kills was unable to play the front row in four of the five games due to an injury. However playing in that limited role, Gorny still had a match-high 22 digs, four service aces and seven kills.
"Ali didn't play front row because of an injury," Head Coach Mike Welch said. "She played back row and played just amazing. Even with her injury we don't win without her tonight."
Carrying the offensive load for the Bengals was Kylie Gilmore, who had 19 kills, Felice Yocopis, who had 17 kills, 18 digs and four blocks, Jennie James, who had 13 kills and four blocks and Heather Gilmore, who had nine kills, a .444 attack percentage and seven digs.
"The Gilmore girls came in big for us tonight," Welch added. "Heather Gilmore really put us in position to win game five."
The win was the Bengals first in Flagstaff since the 1994 and just the fifth win all-time at NAU. The win also sets up a showdown for second place in the conference between the Bengals and Sacramento State on Saturday in Sacramento at 8:00 p.m. ISU is now 14-5 overall and 4-2 in conference play, while Sacramento State is now 14-8 and 5-1 after a three-game win over Weber State on Thursday night.
"Winning in Flagstaff, that's huge for us," Welch said. "Now there's no pressure on us, we can go all out against Sacramento State. Before this win (tonight) our team thought that we could do anything, now they really believe and know that we can play big."
