Aug. 28, 2010
Final Stats
Media Booklet: Idaho State 3 - Lamar 1 
POCATELLO, Idaho - Senior middle blocker Britta Bartschi-Rhodehouse earned her first All-Tournament Team honors when she posted a game-high 14 kills in ISU's 3-2 (25-22, 25-19, 20-25, 25-14) victory over Lamar to capture the UPTA Tournament Title Saturday afternoon. Idaho State's tournament championship marks the second straight year where the Bengals have opened the season with a tournament title, capturing the UniWyo Cowgirl Classic hosted by Wyoming in 2009.
"The girls played pretty well. We tried several different possibilities on the floor and I think we had a good glimpse of what they are capable of," said Head Coach Chad Teichert. "Sarah and Britta both had very good weekends. As a team we played well though we had some up and down individual efforts."
Idaho State remains undefeated 3-0 while Lamar fell to 0-3 on the season. Bartschi-Rhodehouse's All-Tournament Team Honor was in recognition of her performance by the tournament's head coaches who voted for the top player of each program. Against Lamar she also recorded five block assists and five digs. The middle blocker averaged 2.67 kills per set posting 32 over the tournament. She also recorded nine block assists and 15 digs.
Senior Haylee Brock, an outside hitter, posted her third straight double-figure kill performance notching 11 against Lamar while maintaining a .333 attack percentage from 24 attempts. Freshman setter Lori Mendenhall recorded her second straight double-double with 43 assists and 12 digs. She led the Bengals with a .857 attack percentage with six kills from seven attempts. Freshman Jennika Wright has been a consistent contributor for the Bengals during the tournament posting at least seven kills in each match, eight against Oral Roberts.
"I thought our newcomers played well in their first tournament," said Teichert. Lori played every match and Jennika got some good time as well."
"Lori had won most competitions in practice so I put her in. I was going to give Karissa (Legaux) the opportunity to play today, but she had a terrible migraine," said Teichert of his reasoning for giving Mendenhall significant time on the court.
Libero Jenna Proost, a senior, recorded her third-straight double-figure dig match for the Bengals when she notched a game-high 21 digs, a tournament-high for the libero. Senior middle-blocker Sarah Carson posted four block assists and led the Bengals for the tournament recording three solo blocks and 12 assisted. Both teams posted nine total blocks for the match.
Megan McStravick was the only Cardinal to post double-figures in kills with ten. Cynthia McCollum and Kaleigh Wright had double-figures in digs with 11 and 15 respectively. Cardinal Tina Hobbs posted a game-high six block assists as well as a solo effort.
The Bengals captured the first and second sets against Lamar, but in its third set Lamar hit its stride. The Cardinals posted their best offense set hitting their best attack percentage of a set at .237 to overcome ISU 25-20. However, the contest fired up the Bengals who returned with force posting a game-high .448 attack percentage. Idaho State combined to maintain a .290 attack percentage while holding Lamar to .096 with just 40 kills from 136 attempts and 27 errors.
The Bengals look to continue their stride as they head to Brigham Young to compete in the Nike Invitational; however they will face hard-hitting competition from Cal Poly, Brigham Young and No. 2 Nebraksa. Cal Poly has opened the season with a two-match win streak, Brigham Young is traditionally a very good program and Nebraska received a No. 2 ranking and 16 first place votes in the Preseason Bison/AVCA Division I Coaches Poll.
"Next weekend will be very different," said Teichert of the caliber of play they will be facing at its next tournament. "They are all very good schools and will be a week of tough matches."
Idaho State will play Cal Poly first on Friday, September 3 at 4:30 p.m. in Provo, Utah.
Notes: Idaho State is on a three-game win streak over Lamar, leading the series 3-1.
UTPA Fall Invitational All Tournament-Team
Marci Logan, UTPA
Elizabeth McVicker, ORU
Britta Bartschi-Rhodehouse, ISU
Jayme Bazile, Lamar
UTPA Fall Invitational Team Finish
1. Idaho State University
2. University of Texas Pan American
3. Oral Roberts University
4. Lamar University
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