Sept. 22, 2005
Box Score
Pocatello, ID--Katie Hurst tied the all-time Idaho State single-match digs record with 37 and Felice Yocopis added her 15th double-double of the season with 27 kills and a career-high 31 digs as Idaho State defeated Portland State 3-2 Thursday night at Reed Gym.
The Big Sky opening win moves the Bengals to 7-8 overall, 1-0 in league play. The Vikings fall to 10-4 overall, 0-1 in Big Sky play.
The marathon two hours and forty five minute match started with ISU taking two straight, 30-23 and 36-24. The Bengals then dropped two straight to the Vikings, 23-30 and 33-35 before taking the final game 19-17 to secure the victory.
"It was a battle the entire way," said ISU head coach Mike Welch. "I thought both teams just fought back and forth. I'm really proud of the way our team played, especially in crunch time."
Idaho State fell behind early in game one 2-7, but battled back to tie the game at 11-11. The game went back-and-forth until the Bengals tied the game at 16 and never fell behind again to take the 30-23 win.
Game two was another back-and-forth contest that saw 17 ties. Idaho State had five game-point opportunities before the Vikings took a 34-33 lead for game point. A Yocopis kill gave the Bengals the lead at 35-34 before a PSU attack error handed the Bengals the game two win 36-34.
With game three tied at 3-3, Portland State went on a 6-0 run to take the 9-3 lead and never lost the lead again as the Vikings went on to win 30-23. Game four was more of the same as both teams went the distance to tie the game at 28-28. Idaho State then had four game points before PSU took a 34-33 lead before an ISU attack error gave the Vikings the 35-33 win two tie the match 2-2.
Down 1-4 in game five, Idaho State rallied to tie the game at four. The game saw 12 more ties before ISU took an 18-17 lead for match point. PSU then committed an attack error to give ISU the 3-2 win.
Nikki Havens led the Bengals with a team-high 27 kills on eight errors and 78 attacks. The junior outside hitter also notched 14 digs, giving Havens her eighth double-double of the season.
Yocopis recorded a double-double with 23 kills on 94 attacks, while collecting 31 digs. Yocopis' 94 total attacks breaks the ISU all-time single match record. The previous record was 75 attacks, which Yocopis had tied against Utah Valley earlier this season. Haven's 78 attacks now ranks second all-time in a single match.
Hurst led the Bengals defensive effort with a career-high 37 digs, which ties the ISU single-match digs record. ISU's Jeri Wigley notched 37 digs against Northern Arizona during the 1987 season.
As a team, Idaho State recorded 73 kills on 255 total attacks. The 255 attacks is second all-time in a single match at ISU. The record is 258 was set against Montana by the 1999 team.
Idaho State will continue Big Sky play against Eastern Washington on Saturday at Reed Gym. EWU dropped a 3-2 match at Weber State tonight. The match is set to begin at 7 p.m. Those attending Saturday's ISU football game will be able to use their ticket stubs to receive free entry into Saturday night's volleyball game.
