Box Score PDFGRAND FORKS, N.D. – ISU volleyball protected its perfect conference record Saturday afternoon with a sweep of North Dakota (15-7, 4-2 BSC), 25-17, 25-21 and 25-22. With the win, Idaho State (14-6, 6-0 BSC) extends its winning streak to eight matches with an undefeated 6-0 conference record.
Senior outside hitter
Tressa Lyman led Idaho State with a match-high 13 kills to go along with eight digs. Sophomore outside hitter
Chloe Hirst recorded 10 kills and 10 digs for her fourth-straight double-double.
The first set was all ISU as the Bengals started with a 6-1 run fueled by four kills, two from senior middle blocker
Makenzie Filer and one apiece from Hirst and Lyman, and a service ace courtesy of Filer. ISU served up four service aces in the first set alone and finished the match with eight total aces. The Bengals never trailed in the first and cruised to the 25-17 win.
North Dakota rebounded and controlled the better part of the second set, starting with a 5-0 run to start the set while maintaining a five-point lead, 15-10, midway through. ISU closed the gap with a 5-0 run behind two kills and two service aces while capitalizing on a UND error for its fifth unanswered point. The Bengals finally overtook North Dakota with a kill from Lyman to put ISU in front 19-18. ISU never relinquished its lead and won the second 25-21.
The third set featured six ties and four lead changes in the closest set of the afternoon. ISU came on strong, recording 18 kills with a .400 hitting percentage in addition to stellar defense with 24 digs. The Bengals were able to hold off UND's final run that cut ISU's lead to one, 22-21 and finished on a 3-1 run to claim the set 25-22 and win the match.
"This was an exciting match for the team," Head Coach
Rick Reynolds said. "Our effort level was high and we responded well to the pressure UND applied. Wea re doing a good job of adjusting to what each team brings at us and trusting what we do."
The Bengals are back out on the road next week with matches at Southern Utah Oct. 15 at 7 p.m. and at Northern Arizona Saturday, Oct. 17 at 4 p.m.
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