ISU Volleyball Ready for Showdown Against Northern Arizona

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POCATELLO, Idaho – Idaho State volleyball welcomes Northern Arizona to Reed Gym Thursday, Oct. 29 in one of most important matches of the season to date. Both ISU and NAU have identical 9-1 records in the Big Sky Conference South Division, but currently NAU holds the tiebreaker over ISU for the lead as the Lumberjacks defeated the Bengals in Flagstaff, Ariz. nearly two weeks ago on Oct. 17. The match will also serve as Idaho State's annual pink game for breast cancer awareness.

SCOUTING NORTHERN ARIZONA
This will be the 68th meeting between Idaho State and Northern Arizona. ISU leads the series 37-30 and lost the last match on Oct. 17, 2015 in Flagstaff, Ariz. 3-1. Currently, the 'Jacks are on an eight-match winning streak.

The Lumberjacks return four starters plus a libero from last year's squad that finished tied for fourth in conference play with an 11-5 record. Currently, NAU is 19-4 overall with a 9-1 mark in conference play and averages13.2 kills per set with a .262 hitting percentage. The Lumberjacks average 12.4 assists per set, 14.7 digs per set and have recorded 240 total blocks for a 2.76 per set average.

NAU is led by senior outside hitter Janae Vander Ploeg (4.67 kills/set; leads Big Sky), senior middle blocker Payton Bock (1.56 blocks/set; 3rd BSC) and senior defensive specialist Stacia Williams (3.68 digs/set).

The Lumberjacks are coached by Head Coach Ken Murphy who carries a 59-23 overall record in three seasons at NAU.

LAST MATCH: BENGALS KEEP ROLLING; SWEEP THE VANDALS AT HOME
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.

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.