Nov. 7, 2009
Final Stats
Sacramento State Box Score 
Sacramento, CA-- Idaho State (11-14, BSC 5-8) closed out their final road game of the season with its first road victory over Sacramento State (15-13, BSC 5-7) in program history as the Bengals defeated the Hornets in straight sets (26-24, 26-24, 25-21) at Colberg Court Saturday night. The win was Idaho State's fourth program victory over the Hornets improving the series to 25-4, and it was ISU's first three set victory since 1996.
"It's a good win, and to win the way they did, that's something," said Head Coach Chad Teichert. "It's a must win for us."
The Bengals remain in contention for the Big Sky Conference as each victory is crucial in their attempt to qualify. Montana holds the fourth tournament spot with a 7-6 record defeating Northern Arizona in straight sets to drop the Lumberjacks to a 5-8 record to tie the teams at sixth place. Sacramento State remains in fifth place with its 5-7 record.
Senior Emily Waldron posted a match high 13 kills and was the only player in the match to record a double-double with 15 digs. She also had two block assists and a service ace. Junior Sarah Carson recorded 11 kills hitting a .500 percentage posting only two errors from 18 attempts. The middle blocker also posted a match-high five block assists.
The Bengals posted a .246 hitting percentage for the contest and held Sacramento State to a .154 attack percentage. For the first time in Big Sky play the Bengals held their opponents to zero double-figures in kills; it is ISU's second time this season as they held Seattle to the same standard.
Idaho State also out-blocked the Hornets 7-to-5 which the Bengals had not done against an opponent since Sept. 11 when the Bengals out-blocked #15 Southern California 4.5-to-3 earlier this season.
"It's nice to see that they are doing better now," said Head Coach Teichert of the Bengals out-blocking Sacramento State. "They have been working on it. You know when you but up a good block it helps in so many other ways, maybe they back up on the attack, it makes a difference that's for sure."
In the first set the Bengals allowed an 8-2 run by the Hornets to start, but responded with a run of their own to reduce the Sacramento State to a four point advantage. Sacramento State would continue to hold the lead until the Bengals recorded a 14-5 run after being down 19-12 to close out the first set 26-24. Redshirt senior Paige Palmer closed out the set with a service ace.
Palmer recorded three of Idaho State's six service aces. Though Sacramento State posted nine service aces the team also committed 10 service errors while the Bengals produced eight. Palmer, a libero, recorded 13 digs to continue her 20-match double-figure dig streak to lead the Big Sky Conference.
Sophomore Jaclyn Hone and junior Jenna Proost also recorded double-figure digs in the match with Hone putting up 13 and Proost recording 14 against the Hornets.
The second set saw 11 tied scores and two lead changes. The last tied score was at 24-all which caused the Hornets to take a timeout. Even with the stoppage the Bengals played through with Waldron recording a service ace and Haylee Thompson closing out the set with a kill.
The third set resembled the first set in that the Bengals fell behind in an 8-2 run again. ISU regained some composure and closed the large gap. Idaho State overtook Sacramento State with a 12-4 run to close out the set. Waldron was the go-to player in the end as she recorded ISU's last three points with kills.
"We were fortunate," said Teichert of ISU's late runs for the Bengals. "It's too bad that we put ourselves in that position, but it's nice to have done it."
The Bengals have three matches remaining this season, all at home. Idaho State will have just one match next week as the Bengals host Weber State on Saturday, November 14 at Reed Gym. The match begins at 7 p.m.
Notes: Idaho State has captured two of its four victories over Sacramento State under Head Coach Teichert as he led ISU in a five set victory last season at Reed Gym.
