ISU Hosts a Pair of Big Sky Matchups this Week

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POCATELLO, Idaho – The Idaho State volleyball team returns home to host Eastern Washington Oct. 22 and the University of Idaho Oct. 24 following four-straight matches on the road. The Bengals finished their road swing with a 3-1 record, with their lone conference loss coming at the hands of the Lumberjack of Northern Arizona on Oct. 17. With the loss, the Bengals enter a three-way tie for the right to host the conference tournament with Eastern Washington (12-7, 7-1 BSC) and Northern Arizona (17-4, 7-1 BSC).

The Bengals welcome all ISU fans to Reed Gym Thursday, Oct. 22 as they host North Division leader Eastern Washington in a battle between two of the top teams in the conference. Come early, be loud and fill up Reed Gym for a true ISU home-court advantage.

SCOUTING EASTERN WASHINGTON
This will be the 74th meeting between Idaho State and Eastern Washington. EWU leads the series 40-33, but ISU has won the last three meetings and won the last meeting 3-0 in Cheney, Wash. on Oct. 23, 2014.
 
The Eagles return eight letter winners and three starters from last season's squad that finished last season with a 9-20 overall record and a 5-11 mark in Big Sky Conference play, good for ninth place. Currently, EWU is 12-7 overall including a 7-1 mark in conference play. The Eagles average 12.2 kills per set with a .212 hitting percentage to go along with 11.5 assists per set and 14.4 digs per set. EWU has recorded 143 total blocks for a 2.17 blocks per set average.

The Eagles are led by senior outside hitter Allie Schumacher who has produced 201 kills on the season for a 3.05 kills per set average. Schumacher is also second on the team in digs, with a 2.67 digs per set average.

Eastern Washington is coached by Interim Head Coach Michael King who carries a 16-21 overall record with the Eagles.

SCOUTING IDAHO
This will be the 35th meeting between Idaho State and Idaho. Idaho leads the series 19-15, but the Bengals won the last meeting in Moscow, Idaho 3-0 on Oct. 25, 2014.
 
The Vandals return nine letterwinners and two starters plus a libero from last season's squad that finished 15-14 overall with an 11-5 mark in conference play, good for a fourth place finish (3rd in North Division). Currently, Idaho is 8-12 overall including a 5-3 mark in conference play. The Vandals average 12.6 kills per set with a .217 hitting percentage to go along with 11.8 assists per set and 14.8 digs per set. Idaho has recorded 181.5 total blocks this season for a 2.4 blocks per set average.

The Vandals are led by senior outside hitter Katelyn Peterson who has recorded 203 kills on the season for a 2.67 kills per set average.

Idaho is coached by Head Coach Debbie Buchanan who is in her 16th season and carries a 238-225 overall record.

LAST MATCH: ISU'S NINE-MATCH WIN STREAK SNAPPED; FALL 3-1 IN FLAGSTAFF
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.

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.