Bengals Drop First-Round NCAA Game to No. 11 Hawaii

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HONOLULU, Hawaii - The Idaho State volleyball team wrapped up their 2013 season with a loss in the first-round of the NCAA Tournament to No. 11 Hawaii. The Bengals fell 25-16 in the first set before winning the second 25-19. They loss the third 25-12 and the fourth 25-13.

"We played a lot better in set two. I always like it when we play well," said Head Coach Chad Teichert. "What changed in set three…did they just pick up the level of play, Hawaii? Or did something go on with us mentally or emotionally? To have a little bit of a let up. I don't know, it's a tough thing to figure out. But, it was fun. It was fun to take a game from Hawaii, not everyone gets to do that. We were able to do it. It was a fun deal."

In the opening set, Idaho State scored five straight points to move the score from 20-9 to 20-15. In the second set, the Bengals led Hawaii by as many as nine points.

"We didn't pass as well and it's hard to do anything when we don't pass and I think Hawaii turned it up," said senior Lori Mendenhall-Lee. "I think they were mad, so they turned it up and they started playing a lot better."

Hawaii's Stan Sheriff Center boasted 8,238 fans tonight, the largest crowd the Bengals have played for this season.

"It's pretty incredible," said senior Lori Mendenhall-Lee. "I mean, we're not going to play in front of 8,000 fans ever again so it was kind of fun and they're the best fans I've ever played against, they support the other team and that's pretty cool."

Sophomore Tressa Lyman led in kills with 13 as well as posting six digs. Hayley Farrer led in digs with 10. Lyman and Makenzie Filer both posted two service aces.

Senior Lori Mendenhall-Lee, playing her last match as Bengal, posted 31 assists, four digs, four blocks and three kills. Mendenhall-Lee ends her career with third-most single-season assists in program history with 1,415, third-most career assists with 4,226 and third-best single season attack percentage with .366 from 2012. This season, she was named first-team all-conference and to the Big Sky All-Tournament team. Last year, she was the Big Sky Regular Season MVP.

With the Bengals 23 wins this season, they are tied for the third winningest season in program history. Teichert won his 100th game during the Big Sky Tournament and is Idaho State's third winningest coach in program history. He has won the most Big Sky games with 61. He has been named Big Sky Coach of the Year two years in a row.

"It's fun to play a team as good as Hawaii and ranked as high as they are," said Teichert. "They have such a fabulous tradition and an unbelievable fan base so it's a great opportunity for the girls of Idaho State and I to be able to play in this venue and be able to make it to the tournament."