ISU's Nine-Match Win Streak Snapped; Bengals Fall 3-1 in Flagstaff

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FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – The Idaho State volleyball team was dealt its first conference loss Saturday evening, losing in four sets to Northern Arizona 20-25, 25-15, 25-17 and 25-17 and snapping its nine-match winning streak. Despite registering 51 kills on the night (ISU's third best performance in conference), the Bengals suffered their worst hitting percentage of conference play at .161 and were unable to overcome 28 hitting errors on the night.

Senior outside hitter Tressa Lyman led the Bengals with her 12th double-double of the season as she posted 17 kills and 14 digs. Senior middle blocker Makenzie Filer also reached double-digit kills with 10 to go along with six blocks.

"Hats off to NAU," Head Coach Rick Reynolds said. "They played at an extremely high level, and you could tell they were energized for the match."

Idaho State (15-7, 7-1 BSC) struggled to get started in the first set, falling behind to Northern Arizona (17-4, 7-1 BSC) 3-0 to start the match. The Bengals were unable to stop NAU seniors Janae Vander Ploeg and Payton Bock, who each posted a .600 hitting percentage behind six and three kills respectively. ISU fell behind by as many as eight points (19-11), but rallied to cut NAU's lead to three, 21-18, following a kill from sophomore outside hitter Chloe Hirst and an attacking error by NAU. However, the Lumberjacks closed the set on 4-2 run to claim the first set 25-20.

The second set featured a major momentum swing in favor of the Bengals. ISU started with a big kill from junior Bailey Bars to earn their first lead of the match at 1-0. NAU followed with a kill from Bock, but the Bengals were not to be derailed. Following a 5-all tie, ISU rattled off four-straight points featuring two-straight kills from sophomore middle blocker Marissa Todd and two-straight NAU errors. This set, it was the Lumberjacks who struggled hitting with a .033 hitting percentage and only seven kills to ISU's 12. The Bengals continued on, finishing on a 10-5 run to claim the second set 25-15 and tie up the match at one apiece.

Following the break, the momentum shifted in favor of Northern Arizona as the Lumberjacks led the entire third set. ISU tied up the score on six different occasions, but the Bengals could not offset NAU's .421 hitting percentage. NAU surged ahead 19-13 midway through the third and finished the set on a 6-4 run to claim the third, 25-17.

ISU started the first set on top, capitalizing on an NAU attacking error and registering a kill from junior outside hitter Bailey Bars for the 2-0 lead. The Lumberjacks rebounded and took advantage of three-straight ISU errors to leap ahead 6-2. The Bengals struggled hitting the fourth set and were unable to offset NAU's .357 hitting percentage. NAU claimed the fourth set 25-17 and handed ISU its first league loss, 3-1.

"We are excited to return home and prepare for another crucial week in the Big Sky," Reynolds said. "Our staff will be diligent in making sure we are prepared going in to this week. We hope to see the Home-Field Advantage [from Holt] moved to Reed Gymnasium on Thursday and Saturday!"

The Bengals return home for their first home match in nearly two weeks as they host Eastern Washington Thursday, Oct. 22 at 7 p.m. followed by Idaho Saturday, Oct 24 at 7 p.m. in Reed Gym.