GAME NOTES | LIVE STATS
BENGAL OVERVIEW
Idaho State volleyball opens the 2012 season at the El Paso Sports Commission Invitational hosted by UTEP. Action kicksoff Friday, Aug. 24 against Arizona State at 5 p.m. ISU then faces UTEP Saturday, Aug. 25 at 1 p.m. and Fresno State at 5:30 p.m.
FOLLOW THE ACTION
Bengal fans can follow the action at the El Paso Sports Commission Invitational at
www.utepathletics.com.
DEJA VU
This is the second time that Idaho State has faced Arizona State and UTEP in tournament play. In 2009, Idaho State faced Arizona State and UTEP at the Arizona State Sheridon Classic.
BENGALS RETURN CORE OF EXPERIENCE
There will be several familiar faces on the Idaho State women's volleyball team this year. ISU returns 10 players from the 2011 squad including 2011 first team all-conference selection
Breanne Van Every as well as fellow seniors
Jaclyn Hone-Hawkins and
Kimberly Naut.
Junior setter Lori Mendenhall, sophomore middle blocker Whitney Bartschi, redshirt sophomore libero Kylee Searle and redshirt sophomore outside hitter
Danielle Downs round out a core of returners who saw considerable time on the court last season.
OUTSIDE HITTERS
There are seven outside hitters on the team this year, headlined by
Breanne Van Every and
Jaclyn Hone-Hawkins. Also returning in this position is redshirt sophomore
Danielle Downs, sophomore Alydia Fields and redshirt freshman
Tressa Lyman. Reeder, a 6-1 graduate of Box Elder High School in Brigham City, Utah and walk-on sophomore
Jaxon Hill look to add depth to the position.
MIDDLE BLOCKERS
There are three middle blockers on the squad this season led by sophomore Whitney Bartschi. Bartschi recorded 72 blocks last season off of four single blocks and 68 block assists. Senior
Kimberly Naut also returns while freshman
Makenzie Filer adds depth to the position. Filer is a 6-3 graduate of Brighton High School in Salt Lake City, Utah.
SETTERS
Junior Lori Mendenhall will lead the setting effort this season while freshman
Hayley Farrer will add depth to the position. Farrer, a 5-10 setter, graduated from Idaho Falls High School in 2012 and led her team to a 5A state championship last season.
DEFENSIVE SPECIALIST/LIBEROS
Record-setting libero Kylee Searle will lead the defensive effort this season. Searle broke the single-season and single-game dig records last year with 512 and 40 digs respectively. She averaged 4.65 digs per set and led ISU with 30 service aces during the season. She was named to the UniWyo Cowgirl Classic All-Tournament team. Searle is joined by newcomer junior walk-on Caroline Ratliff.
TOURNAMENT TEAMS
ISU Head Coach
Chad Teichert has coached several players onto all-tournament teams. Five current players have received all-tournament honors.
Jaclyn Hone-Hawkins made the 2009 UniWyo Cowgirl Classic All-Tournament team while
Danielle Downs made the 2011 Tiger Invitational All-Tournament team. Last season,
Breanne Van Every was named to two all-tournament teams: the Utah State Invitational and UniWyo Cowgirl Classic. Lori Mendenhall was named MVP at the UniWyo Cowgirl Classic. and Kylee Searle was also named to the UniWyo Cowgirl Classic All-Tournament Team.
ABOUT ARIZONA STATE
This is the second meeting between the two schools. Arizona State won the first meeting 3-1 Sept. 5, 2009 at the ASU Sheraton Classic. The Sun Devils went 9-22 overall last season and 5-17 in Pac-12 play, finishing 10th in conference action. ASU is led by Jason Watson who is entering is fifth season at the helm of the Sun Devils. ASU is returning 12 letterwinners this season, including eight starters.
ABOUT UTEP
This will be the sixth meeting between ISU and UTEP. The Miners lead the series 3-2 and UTEP won the last meeting 3-0 Sept. 4, 2009 at the ASU Sherton Classic. The Miners finished the 2011 season at 19-14 and 9-11 in Conference USA play. UTEP has nine letterwinners returning, including four starters. UTEP is led by Ken Murphy who will begin his seventh season as head coach this year.
ABOUT FRESNO STATE
This will be the sixth meeting between the two programs. Fresno State leads the series 3-2 and Idaho State won the last meeting 3-1 Aug. 30, 2007 at FSU. The Bulldogs finished in a tie for fourth in the WAC and went to the conference tournament semifinals. FSU finished the season at 14-15 overall and 7-7 in league play. Fresno State is led by Lauren Netherby-Sewell who is in her fifth season as head coach for the Bulldogs. FSU has 12 returners on the team this year, including six starters.
