Bengals Keep Rolling; Sweep the Vandals at Home

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POCATELLO, Idaho - The Bengal volleyball team defeated the Idaho Vandals Saturday night in Reed Gym in three sets, 25-16, 26-24 and 25-18.  This was the first time since 1995 that the Vandals have traveled to Reed Gym to take on the Bengals.  ISU improves to 17-7 overall and 9-1 in Big Sky Conference play.

The Bengals were led by senior middle blocker Makenzie Filer who had 13 kills with a .520 hitting percentage.  Senior outside hitter Tressa Lyman recorded 12 kills and junior outside hitter Bailey Bars added 10.  The Bengals tied their season high in three-set kills with 49.  Bars and junior setter Hayley Farrer both recorded nine digs and freshman outside hitter Riley Lyman added eight of the Bengals' 45 total digs.

"We controlled our side of the net," said Head Coach Rick Reynolds. "That's what I told our team before the match. Control our side of the net. Do what's expected. Execute what we practice and see what happens. I told them to be patient."

The Bengals started off strong winning the first set 25-16.  ISU recorded 19 kills with a .412 hitting percentage in the first set.  The Bengals trailed only once to the Vandals on the first point of the set.  Three kills from Filer gave ISU its first three points.  Later in the set, kills from Tressa Lyman, Bars and Hirst gave the Bengals a 10-5 lead.  A monster kill from Tressa Lyman ended the set, 25-16.

Set two went point-for-point from the beginning and ISU never led by more than two points.  The score was tied 14 times and there were six lead changes.  The Bengals recorded 17 kills to the Vandals 15.  Early in the set, kills were recorded by Filer, Farrer, Bars, and Tressa Lyman.  The Vandals led 24-23 when Tressa Lyman added another crucial kill. Following Lyman's kill, the Vandals suffered an attack error to put ISUs up 25-24.  A monster kill from Bars won the set for the Bengals and gave ISU a 2-0 lead heading in to the break.

The Bengals won the last set 25-18 and tallied 13 kills with a .345 hitting percentage.  Set three had four tied scores and just one lead change.  The last tie was early in the game at 6-all.  The Bengals pulled away and led by as many as eight, 18-10 and allowed the Vandals only eight more points. ISU capitalized on four Vandal errors to win the set 25-18 and sweep the match, 3-0.

The Vandals were led by Katelyn Peterson with eight kills and Sarah Sharp added six.  Jenna Ellis recorded 11 digs followed by Terra Varney and Peterson with 10.

The Bengals will be back in action on Thursday, Oct. 29 against Northern Arizona (18-4, 8-1).  ISU is playing for the outright  lead in the South Division Thursday night.