Idaho State vs. Eastern Washington
Date: Friday, Oct. 21
Place and Time: Reed Gym at 7 p.m. MT
Idaho State vs. Portland State
Date: Saturday, Oct. 22
Place and Time: Reed Gym at 7 p.m. MT
Live Stats | Big Sky TV | Audio | Match Notes
BENGAL OVERVIEW
Idaho State (11-8, 5-3 BSC) jumped from sixth to a tie for third in the Big Sky standings after a sweep of its road contests against Northern Arizona and Northern Colorado. The Bengals return home to start the second half of conference play when ISU hosts Eastern Washington (8-11, 4-4 BSC) on Friday, Oct. 21 and Portland State (9-11, 5-3 BSC) on Saturday, Oct. 22. Both matches are at 7 p.m. at Reed Gym.
FOLLOW THE ACTION
Bengal fans can follow the action through free live stats, live audio and live video at www.isubengals.com. KISU 91.1 FM broadcasts all of ISU's home games and provides a live audio webstream with Assistant Athletic Director for Academic Services
Matt Steuart providing play-by-play and color commentary from Kade Vance. All of ISU's home games and Big Sky Conference matches can be seen for free online through Big Sky TV.
LAST WEEK IN BENGAL VOLLEYBALL
Idaho State swept its road contests over the weekend. The Bengals defeated Northern Arizona in four sets and fought back for a five-set victory over Northern Colorado after falling in the first two sets. ISU defeated Northern Arizona to improve to a five-game winning streak. ISU has swept the 'Jacks in play the last two years of competition. The win came over a team that began the season 12-0 and ended Northern Arizona's undefeated home record dropping the team to 5-1 for the season. ISU played its fifth five-set match against Northern Colorado with the Bengals posting their second-ever win over the Bears. ISU captured its first victory over the Big Sky leader in 29 years. The last victory Idaho State had over the Bears was a 2-1 contest in 1982. Idaho State improved to 2-13 in the series.
BENGAL STAND-OUT: VAN EVERY
Junior outside hitter and defensive specialist
Breanne Van Every led the Bengals to a sweep of their road contests with her seventh double-double at Northern Arizona in a four set win and posted a career and match-high 22 kills in ISU's second-ever victory over the Bears; ISU's first since 1982. She earned Big Sky Player of the Week and Bengal Athlete of the Week for her efforts.
ABOUT THE BENGALS
Idaho State moved into a tie for third place in the conference standings with Portland State after wins over Northern Arizona and Northern Colorado. The Bengals are on a three-game win streak and return home to Reed Gym where they own a 3-2 record. Sophomore setter Lori Mendenhall posts the third most double-doubles in the Big Sky with nine.
Breanne Van Every holds the second best kill average in the conference with 3.53 kills per set and second most points in conference play having earned 145. Sophomore setter Lori Mendenhall averages 9.36 assists per set in conference play for the third most in Big Sky action. Libero Kylee Searle posts the second best service aces per game in the league with 0.39 and the third best digs per set average at 5.17 in the Big Sky. Senior
Vanessa Muir, a middle blocker, leads ISU with 1.11 blocks per set in conference play.
MUIR DOUBLES DOWN
Against Northern Colorado, three Bengals were one dig shy of a double-double performance with
Breanne Van Every recording 22 kills, Lori Mendenhall with 43 assists and
Danielle Downs with 10 kills. However, senior middle blocker
Vanessa Muir earned her first career double-double another way. She had 10 kills and a career-high 10 blocks in ISU's five set win over the Bears.
YOUNG BENGALS STEP-UP FOR ISU AND TOP THE BIG SKY
Lori Mendenhall leads all sophomores with 9.66 assists for the season while Kylee Searle leads all freshman for digs and aces for the season (4.57 dps, 0.29 aps) and in Big Sky action (5.17 dps, 0.39 aps). Mendenhall has already recorded 18 double-figure assists matches while Searle has posted a 17 double-figure digs. Searle is on a 13-match double-figure dig streak dating back to ISU's match against Syracuse on Sept. 3.
TEICHERT CAPTURES 50TH HEAD COACH VICTORY AGAINST 'JACKS
Idaho State Head Coach
Chad Teichert captured his 50th career victory in a four set match at Northern Arizona on Oct. 13 improving his record to 50-54. Teichert began his collegiate coaching career with the Bengals in 2008 and each year ISU has improved. In his first season, he led ISU to a 10-match win season; the first since 2006. In his second season, the Bengals posted a 13-15 season record. Last season, the Bengals finished third in the conference with a 9-7 record, reaching the conference tournament for the first time since 2005 when it was a six-team event. The overall record for the Bengals was 18-13, Teichert's first winning record as a head coach and ISU's first winning record since 2003.
YOUNG SQUAD MAKES MISTAKES BUT STILL EARNS VICTORIES
Of the seven starters, including the libero, Idaho State is starting three freshman and five underclassmen. ISU's lone senior starter
Vanessa Muir is only in her second season with the Bengals. The most experienced player on the court is
Breanne Van Every who served primarily as a defensive specialist her first two years as a Bengal is now leading ISU in kills. With all this young, raw talent it's no surprise the Bengals will make errors, but it is outstanding that Idaho State sports a winning 11-8 record for the season and a 5-3 record in conference play. With the idea that errors will happen, the Bengals have only hit above a .250 attack percentage once this season against Georgia State posting a .266 attack percentage. However, Idaho State owns a 10-8 record in matches hitting under a .250 attack percentage this season.
FIELDS STEPS UP PLAY IN CONFERENCE
Freshman outside hitter Alydia Fields posts the second best mark at 2.31 kills per set on the Bengal squad in league action. She has posted all four of her double-figure kill matches in conference play. Against Northern Arizona, Fields posted a match-high 14 kills while maintaining a .344 attack percentage. She holds the best attack percentage for a game on the squad with a .483 hitting percentage against Weber State with a career-high 18 kills.
ABOUT EASTERN WASHINGTON
Eastern Washington posts an 8-11 record for the season and are 4-4 in league play. The Eagles look to end a five-match losing streak where they have fallen in straight sets in the last three matches. Shelby Puckett leads the Eagles with 3.30 kills per set in conference play while Lindsey Petroni leads the dig effort with 4.52 per set. The team maintains a .184 attack percentage in league action.
SERIES INFO AND LAST MEETING WITH THE EAGLES
Eastern Washington leads the series 38-29 having defeated the Bengals in five sets in the last meeting at Reese Court ending a four-match win streak. The Eagles hold a six-match win streak over the Bengals in the series.
ABOUT PORTLAND STATE
Portland State is tied with the Bengals for third in the conference standings with a 5-3 record. The Vikings play Weber State on Friday, Oct. 21 before coming to Pocatello. Portland State has won five of its last seven matches, ending a two-match losing streak with a 3-0 win over Eastern Washington. Megan Ellis leads the Vikings with three kills per set. The team averages a .208 hitting percentage in league action. Katie O'Brien leads the conference in blocks per set with 1.16 for the season.
SERIES INFO AND LAST MEETING WITH THE VIKINGS
Portland State leads the series 29-15 with the Bengals overcoming the Vikings in four sets at the Peter W. Stott Center this season.
Breanne Van Every posted a match-high 18 kills with a .302 hitting percentage in the last meeting.
