Bengals Clinch Spot in Big Sky Tournament

Box Score: Idaho State 3 - Montana State 1

BOZEMAN, Montana - Excited screams filled the restaurant when the Bengals received the results that Sacramento State had fallen to Portland State on the road.  The Hornet's loss compiled with Idaho State's dominate 3-1 (27-25, 25-16, 23-25, 25-17) victory over Montana State at Shroyer Gym secured a spot for Idaho State in the Big Sky tournament.  The Bengals have one contest remaining with its results determining if ISU will enter the tournament as a three or four seed.

Idaho State will advance to its ninth Big Sky tournament appearance in program history.  The last time Idaho State advanced to the conference tournament was in 2005 where they fell in the quarterfinals to Montana State in five sets.

The Bengals have three different opportunities to capture a third seed.  The Bengals can easily take the sought after spot by defeating Montana or the Bengals can stave off a loss to the Griz in four or five sets winning the third seed due to the Big Sky's tiebreaker rules.  Idaho State would finish in the fourth seed if they were overcome by Montana in straight sets.

"For sure we want to win tomorrow but at the same time we might play better because we won't have any pressure on us, we can relax more," said senior outside hitter Haylee Thompson-Brock.  "I think that everybody wants to be the three seed because our chances will be better to advance if we finish there, so tomorrow is still a big game for us."

Thompson-Brock posted a match-high 17 kills while hitting a .262 attack percentage to give Idaho State its fifth straight victory for its longest win streak of the season.  The last time Idaho State had a five-match win streak was in 1995.

"The fact that our middle hitters hit so well made a difference tonight," said Head Coach Chad Teichert.  "If they hit well it opens up the floor for the outsides to hit well."

Senior middle blocker Sarah Carson posted 14 kills while maintaining an outstanding .565 attack percentage.  Senior middle blocker Britta Bartschi-Rhodehouse chipped in 10 kills with zero errors from 15 attacks for a .667 attack percentage, for the game-high from a front row player.  The Bengals held a .323 hitting percentage for the match while keeping Montana State at a .198 attack percentage.

Senior libero Jenna Proost and junior right side hitter Jaclyn Hone each posted a match-high 14 digs.  Sophomore defensive specialist Breanne Van Every chipped in 11 digs and was two kills shy of a double-double, notching her points during her several rotations into the front row.  Junior setter Karissa Legaux recorded 48 assists in the contest. 

Idaho State out-blocked the Bobcats 10-to-6 as a team with Bartschi-Rhodehouse and Hone recorded a match-high five blocks.  One of Hone's blocks was a solo effort.  Thompson-Brock chipped in four block assists. 

The Bengals improved to 18-11 for the season and 9-6 in league action currently holding third place in the conference rankings.  Idaho State will play at Montana on Saturday, Nov. 19 at 7:05 p.m.