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POCATELLO, Idaho - Idaho State's slow start against Montana State was too much for the Bengals to recover from as ISU fell in five sets (25-18, 25-19, 19-25, 15-25, 16-14) Friday night.
After dropping the first two sets where Montana State hit above .300 in both games while giving the Bengals tough serves and blocks, Idaho State rallied back to capture the third and fourth sets by hitting .214 and .308 respectively.
In the fifth set, Montana State held match point at 14-12. Sophomore setter Lori Mendenhall served Idaho State through the to tie the contest. However, an attack error by ISU and a kill by MSU's Rachelle Allen on a ball that snuck over the net for the Bengals handed Montana State its first win of the season.
Montana State's win ended a 24-match losing streak and a 13-match Big Sky losing streak. In addition, MSU defeated Idaho State for the first time in 11 matches dating back to 2005.
Montana State improved to 1-15 for the season and 1-5 in league play. The Bengals fell to 8-8 overall and 2-3 in Big Sky action.
Mendenhall recorded her eighth double-double of the season with 44 assists and 19 digs.
Breanne Van Every also recorded a double-double, her fifth of the season, with a match-high 18 kills and a career-high 21 digs. It's is Van Every's third straight match recording the match-high in kills.
Vanessa Muir chipped in 12 kills while Whitney Bartschi added 10 kills. Five Bengals had double-figure digs led by libero Kylee Searle who notched a match-high 30 digs, her second straight 30-plus dig performance.
Katie Grajewski and
Danielle Downs each had 10 digs.
Montana State out-blocked Idaho State 13-to-4 led by Allen with six block assists.
Idaho State plays Montana at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 8 at Reed Gym. Fans can help "Can the Griz" with the buy one ticket, get one free with a canned food item.
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