Volleyball Hits the Road for a Pair of Conference Matches

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POCATELLO, Idaho – The Idaho State volleyball team heads out on the road this week for matches at Northern Colorado Thursday, Oct. 8 and at North Dakota Saturday, Oct. 10.  UND (14-6, 3-1 BSC) and UNC (6-11, 2-2 BSC) are currently second and third respectively in the Big Sky Conference North Division.

ABOUT NORTHERN COLORADO
This will be the 25th meeting between Idaho State and Northern Colorado. UNC leads the series 17-7 and has won the last two meetings between the squads, including defeating ISU 3-0 to win the Big Sky Conference tournament last season and earn a bid to the 2014 NCAA tournament.
 
UNC returns 10 letter winners and four starters plus a libero from last year's team that finished 22-11 overall, 12-4 in the BSC (second in North Division) and won the BSC tournament.

Currently, UNC is 6-11 overall with a 2-2 mark in conference play. The Bears average 12.9 kills per set with a .187 hitting percentage and 12.2 assists per set. Northern Colorado averages 14.7 digs per set and has 106.5 total blocks on the season for a 1.7 blocks per set average. The Bears are led by senior outside hitter Kendra Cunningham who averages 3.53 kills per set and 3.84 points per set.

UNC is coached by Head Coach Lyndsey Oates who carries a 187-140 overall record.

ABOUT NORTH DAKOTA
This will be the seventh meeting between Idaho State and North Dakota. ISU leads the series 4-2 and won the last meeting 3-0 in Pocatello, Idaho on Oct. 11, 2014.

UND returns seven letter winners and four starters plus a libero from last year's squad that finished 26-9 overall with a 13-3 mark in conference, good for first place in the Big Sky Conference North Division.

Currently, North Dakota is 14-6 overall with a 3-1 mark in conference play. UND averages 13.1 kills per set with a .234 hitting percentage and 12.4 assists per set. North Dakota averages 16.9 digs per set and has 170.0 total blocks on the season for a 2.3 blocks per set average. UND is led by sophomore middle hitter Faith Dooley who averages 2.91 kills per set with a .342 hitting percentage.

UND is coached by Head Coach Mark Pryor who carries a 40-15 record at North Dakota.

LAST MATCH: ISU DEFEATS PORTLAND STATE IN FIVE; WINS SIXTH STRAIGHT
The Idaho State volleyball team increased its winning streak to six games Saturday evening, defeating visiting Portland State in five sets, 25-18, 24-26, 25-16, 21-25 and 15-11. The Bengals overcame a four-point deficit early in the fifth to win the set and match and protect their undefeated conference record.
 
Four Bengals (11-6, 4-0 BSC) recorded double-doubles on the night, with senior outside hitter Tressa Lyman finishing with 15 kills and 14 digs, junior outside hitter Bailey Bars with 10 kills and 19 digs, sophomore outside hitter Chloe Hirst with 15 kills and 11 digs and junior setter Hayley Farrer with 48 assists and 14 digs.

Idaho State started the match strong, racing out to a five-point lead, 8-3 behind three strong kills from senior middle blocker Makenzie Filer. Portland State (5-11, 1-3 BSC) responded with a 9-4 run to tie up the score at 12 apiece. Despite tying up the match four more times, the Vikings were unable to overtake ISU. The Bengals finished the set on a 9-2 run to win the first set 25-18.

The second set, which featured six ties and four lead changes, was a battle from the beginning. Portland State built a small three point lead, 7-4 following an attacking error from ISU, but the Bengals quickly closed the gap and tied the set 11-all after a monstrous block from Filer and Farrer. The Vikings weren't to be intimidated however, as the Oregon visitors with a 10-3 run that put ISU in a seven-point hole. The Bengals were unable to recover and lost the second 24-26.

After the break, neither team led by more than two points until two straight ISU aces courtesy of Bars gave the Bengals a bit of separation. The Vikings followed with two consecutive errors to put ISU in front 21-15. ISU finished the third set on a 4-1 run to claim the victory, 25-16.

Idaho State started the fourth set in front 5-2, but its lead was short-lived as the Vikings capitalized on six ISU errors to fuel an 8-2 run and gain the advantage, 10-7. PSU extended its lead to as many as eight and kept the Bengals at bay long enough to earn the 25-21 fourth set victory.Portland State continued its run well into the fifth set and led 7-3 after seven kills from six different Vikings. ISU responded with a 7-2 run to take the lead 10-9 and force a PSU timeout. The Vikings recorded a kill immediately after the timeout to tie the set, but ISU finished on a 5-1 run to win the set 15-11 and match, 3-2.