Nov. 12, 2005
Missoula, MT--Idaho State secured a spot into next week's Big Sky Conference Tournament with a 3-1 win over Montana Saturday night at the West Auxiliary Gym. Yocopis led the Bengals with a 23-kill, 17-dig double-double effort while Nikki Havens recorded her own double-double with 19 kills and 10 digs. The Bengals will have the fifth seed at the league tournament and will take on fourth-seeded Montana State Thursday at 8:30 p.m. in Sacramento, Calif.
After dropping game one, 24-30, Idaho State notched three straight, 30-26, 30-16, and 30-26. The win pushes ISU's record to 11-17 overall, 5-9 in Big Sky play. The Grizz, who are knocked out of next week's league tournament with the loss, fall to 14-15 overall, 3-11 in conference play.
"I was impressed with our team tonight," said ISU head coach Mike Welch. "Our energy was high and we stayed composed. We came out a little too relaxed, but battled our way to three straight."
Yocopis tallied 23 kills with just seven errors on 59 attacks for a .271 hitting percentage. The double-double effort was the 21st of the season for the senior outside hitter. Yocopis' 17 digs ups her season total to 456, which is now just 21 short of the all-time ISU single-season record of 477. Yocopis is now just 44 kills shy of 1,000 in her career.
Havens recorded her 19 kills on eight errors and 35 attacks for a .314 attack percentage. Amanda Bevens had an impressive offensive match with a team-high 45 assists. The freshman setter also notched nine digs and seven kills.
"Felice and Nikki struggled in game one, but turned it around in the next three," Welch said. "They have come through for us all season, and did it again tonight. Amanda (Bevens) also head a great match. She has come a long way this season and has improved with each match."
Zoe Beltz and Jessica Gurney rounded out the offensive effort with six kills each. Beltz recorded her six kills without a single error on 17 attacks for a .353 percentage. Katie Hurst helped the Bengals defensively with 11 digs.
The Bengals hit .128 in the first game, .222 in the second, .324 in the third, and .400 in the fourth. As a team, ISU hit .261 on the night, while limiting Montana to a .181 percentage. The Bengals collected 16 team blocks to UM's eight.
"We got better as the match went on," said Welch. "Our hitting percentages got better with each game, and our confidence built."
Idaho State now travels to Sacramento for the Big Sky Tournament. The Bengals will have the fifth seed and will take on fourth-seeded Montana State on Thursday at 8:30 p.m. (MST).
