ISU Back on the Winning Track; Sweep Eastern 3-0

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POCATELLO, Idaho- The Bengal volleyball team defeated the Eastern Washington Eagles in three sets Thursday evening at Reed Gym, winning 25-15, 25-17 and 25-16.  With the win, Idaho State (16-7, 8-1) improved their record to 8-1 in Big Sky Conference play. 

"We did what we were supposed to do," said Head Coach Rick Reynolds.  "We attacked in all phases of the game."

Senior outside hitter Tressa Lyman led the Bengals with a match-high 12 kills to go along with eight digs. Junior outside hitter Bailey Bars tallied four kills and also contributed eight digs to the Bengal win.  Junior setter Hayley Farrer recorded a match-high 22 sets to go along with eight digs.

ISU began the first set neck and neck with EWU.  The Bengals broke away from an 11-11 tie with a service ace from sophomore outside hitter Chloe Hirst.  The Bengals held the Eagles to 15 points in the set and scored the last six points unanswered.  The Bengals hit .333 and tallied 13 of their 35 kills in the first set alone.

In the second set the Bengals claimed the first two points from a service ace by Hirst and a kill by Lyman.  Later in the set, the Bengals pulled away 18-13 following a kill from Lyman.  Sophomore outside hitter Marissa Todd added three consecutive kills to put ISU up 21-13.  The Eagles suffered a service error and a bad set which ISU followed up with a service ace by Bars and a kill by Lyman to take the match 25-17.

In the final set, ISU never trailed and won 25-16. ISU went on a 5-1 run with a pair of service aces from senior middle blocker Mackenzie Filer and Hirst in addition to a kill from Lyman.  The Eagles responded with three kills of their own and tied the set five-all following an ISU attacking error.  To end the set, the Bengals recorded kills from freshman setter Ashlyn Van Every, junior outside hitter Sommer Reeder and Bars and capitalized on two of Eastern's 10 third-set errors. Bars ended the set with a monster kill from the right side to claim the set 25-16 and sweep the Eagles.

"I just want to play good volleyball no matter who's on the other side of the net," said Reynolds. "We talk every day about a nameless, faceless opponent. The opponent we face every day is us."

Idaho State continues their home series Saturday, Oct. 24 against the Idaho Vandals.  The match is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Reed Gym.