ISU Volleyball Looking to Rebound Against Southern Utah

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POCATELLO, Idaho – The Idaho State volleyball team clinched its spot in this season's Big Sky Conference Tournament, following an 0-3 loss at the hands of Northern Arizona Thursday night, but the Bengals are looking to rebound from their loss as they host Southern Utah Saturday, Oct. 31 at 7 p.m. at Reed Gym. This will be the second meeting between the Bengals and Thunderbirds this season, as ISU swept SUU in three sets on Oct. 15.

SCOUTING SOUTHERN UTAH
This will be the 12th meeting between Idaho State and Southern Utah. ISU leads the series 9-2 and won the last meeting 3-0 in Cedar City, Utah on Oct. 15, 2015.

Southern Utah carries a 15-9 overall record with a 6-5 conference record. SUU averages 12.4 kills per set with a .211 hitting percentage and 11.3 assists per set. The Thunderbirds average 16.0 digs per set and have 234.5 total blocks on the season for a 2.9 blocks per set average. SUU leads the conference in opponent hitting percentage, limiting their opponents to .154 and also leads the conference in blocks with 2.89 blocks per set.

SUU is led by senior outside hitter Madi Forsythe who has recorded 329 kills on the season for a 4.06 kills per set average and is currently fifth in the conference in kills.

SUU is coached by Head Coach Craig Choate who is in his first season with the Thunderbirds.
 
LAST MATCH: ISU SWEPT BY NAU IN FIRST HOME LOSS
The Idaho State volleyball team lost for the first time at home this season­, falling in three sets to the visiting Lumberjacks of Northern Arizona. With the loss, NAU moves into sole possession of first place in the South Division, and ISU drops to second.

The Bengals (17-8, 9-2 BSC) struggled at the net against the 'Jacks, finishing the match with a .122 hitting percentage and 21 attacking errors. As a result, ISU was unable to find its rhythm the entire match, starting with a 25-17 first set loss. The Bengals nearly matched NAU's kill total with 10 to the 'Jacks 13, but NAU (20-4, 10-1 BSC) was more efficient in its hitting in the first set with a .256 hitting percentage to ISU's .049. NAU finished the first set on a 9-3 run to claim the first set.

The second set was neck-and-neck for its entirety, featuring five lead changes and 13 ties. The Bengals started on a high note with a monster kill from Filer. NAU made a short 4-1 run to take a 4-2 lead, and ISU responded with a short run of its own. This back-and-forth play dictated the entire set with neither team leading by more than three points. The Bengals tied it up 24-all following a Lyman kill. NAU responded with two straight kills to claim the set 26-24.

Following the break, it was NAU that started quick, racing to a 4-1 lead before ISU responded with two straight kills, one from Bars and one from Lyman to cut the lead to one, 4-3. However, the Bengals were unable to close the gap, and NAU maintained a comfortable three-point lead for the majority of the third. ISU fell behind by six, 11-16, following a hitting error by Filer, forcing Reynolds to call a timeout. Following the timeout, ISU cut NAU's lead to three, 18-15, following two kills from Lyman and a service ace from Filer. The 'Jacks closed the set on a 7-4 run to claim the third set 25-19 and sweep the Bengals.