ISU Volleyball Set to Face Idaho Saturday

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POCATELLO, Idaho – The Idaho State volleyball team hosts North Division foe and in-state rival Idaho Saturday evening at 7 p.m. in Reed Gym. The Bengals are vying for the outright lead in the South Division as they currently split the top spot with Northern Arizona as both squads are 8-1 in conference play. Idaho is on a five-match winning streak and currently sits in second place in the North Division with a 6-3 conference record.

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 9-12 overall including a 6-3 mark in conference play. The Vandals average 12.6 kills per set with a .219 hitting percentage to go along with 11.8 assists per set and 14.6 digs per set. Idaho has recorded 192.5 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 208 kills on the season for a 2.60 kills per set average.

Idaho is coached by Head Coach Debbie Buchanan who is in her 16th season and carries a 239-225 overall record.

LAST MATCH: ISU BACK ON THE WINNING TRACK, SWEEP EASTERN WASHINGTON 3-0 AT HOME
 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.

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 11 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.