On the Road Again: Volleyball Travels to SUU and NAU to Cap Four Match Road Swing

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POCATELLO, Idaho -- The Idaho State volleyball team continues play on the road as it travels to Cedar City, Utah and Flagstaff, Ariz. to face Southern Utah and Northern Arizona. The South Division-leading Bengals face the Thunderbirds Thursday, Oct.15 at 7 p.m. and head to NAU Saturday, Oct. 17 at 4 p.m. The Lumberjacks currently trail ISU by one match in the South Division.

LAST MATCH: ISU ROLLS TO 3-0 VICTORY AT UND TO REMAIN PERFECT IN CONFERENCE
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.

SCOUTING SOUTHERN UTAH
This will be the 11th meeting between Idaho State and Southern Utah. ISU leads the series 8-2 and won the last meeting 3-0 in Pocatello, Idaho on Nov. 20, 2014.
 
Southern Utah carries a 11-8 overall record with a 2-4 conference record. SUU averages 12.5 kills per set with a .212 hitting percentage and 11.4 assists per set. The Thunderbirds average 15.9 digs per set and have 163.0 total blocks on the season for a 2.6 blocks per set average. SUU leads the conference in opponent hitting percentage, limiting their opponents to .156 and is second in blocks with 2.66 per set.

SUU is led by senior outside hitter Madi Forsythe who has recorded 234 kills on the season for a 3.97 kills per set average and is currently second in the conference in kills.

SUU is coached by Head Coach Craig Choate who is in his first season with the Thunderbirds.
 
SCOUTING NORTHERN ARIZONA
This will be the 67th meeting between Idaho State and Northern Arizona. ISU leads the series 37-29 and won the last meeting 3-2 in Pocatello, Idaho on Nov. 21 to advance to the Big Sky Conference championship match.

The Lumberjacks return four starters plus a libero from last year's squad that finished tied for fourth in conference play with an 11-5 record. Currently, NAU is 15-4 overall with a 5-1 mark in conference play and averages13.2 kills per set with a .264 hitting percentage. The Lumberjacks average 12.3 assists per set, 14.6 digs per set and have recorded 199 total blocks for a 2.80 per set average.

NAU is led by senior outside hitter Janae Vander Ploeg (4.59 kills/set; leads Big Sky), senior middle blocker Payton Bock (1.49 blocks/set; 3rd BSC) and junior outside hitter Lauren Jacobsen (3.32 kills/set; 8th BSC, 2.76 digs/set).

The Lumberjacks are coached by Head Coach Ken Murphy who carries a 55-23 overall record in three seasons at NAU.