Bengals Close Regular-Season Conference Play with Montana, Weber State

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POCATELLO, Idaho – The ISU volleyball team is preparing for its final home match of the season this Thursday, Nov. 12 at 7 p.m. against visiting Montana at the ICCU Court at Reed Gym. The match also serves as the annual senior night to honor ISU's three seniors, Makenzie Filer, Kaitlyn Johnson and Tressa Lyman.

ABOUT MONTANA
This will be the 74th meeting between ISU and Montana. Currently, Montana leads the series 41-32, but ISU has won the last five meetings and won their last meeting 3-2 in Missoula, Mont. on Nov. 13, 2014.

The Griz return seven letter winners and four starters, plus a libero, from last season's squad that finished with a 6-23 overall record and a 3-10 mark in Big Sky play (t-7th).

Currently, Montana is averaging 12.8 kills per set with a .198 hitting percentage in addition to 12.0 assists per set. The Griz average 13.5 digs per set and have 168.5 total blocks on the season for a 1.7 blocks per set average. Montana is led by senior outside hitter Hannah Sackett who averages 4.25 kills per set, good for second in the conference. Defensive specialist Sadie Ahearn leads the Griz with 3.92 digs per set, good for eighth in the conference.

Head Coach Brian Doyon is in his first season with Montana and carries a 7-19 overall record.

LAST MATCH: BENGALS SWEPT BY SAC STATE IN SATURDAY NIGHT SHOWDOWN
The Idaho State volleyball team dropped a tough match Saturday evening to Sacramento State as the Hornets defeated the Bengals in three sets, 25-20, 25-17 and 25-21. With the loss, ISU and Sac State hold the same record in the South Division (11-3 BSC), but the Hornets hold the tie-breaker over the Bengals due to a win against South Division leader Northern Arizona earlier this season.

Senior outside hitter Tressa Lyman led the Bengals with 10 kills and six digs, and sophomore outside hitter Chloe Hirst recorded a team-high 14 digs. Junior setter Hayley Farrer recorded 25 assists on the night and moved into sixth place all-time in ISU history.

The Hornets came out strong in the first set, taking the initial lead 3-0 following three straight kills from Sloan Lovett. ISU's Makenzie Filer put the Bengals on the board with a kill of her own, but ISU was never able to tie or take the lead throughout the first. Sac State cruised to a 25-20 first set win.

In the second set, ISU fell behind 2-0 following a kill from Lauren Kissell and a Bengal attacking error but then rattled off four straight points for the 4-2 lead. ISU held the lead until the Hornets broke an 8-all tie with five unanswered points to surge ahead 13-8. The Bengals were unable to recover and lost the second set 25-17, heading into the break with a 2-0 deficit.

In the third set, ISU was solid on defense, with 19 total digs in the final set alone, but the Bengals struggled offensively with a .088 hitting percentage. The Hornets recorded 16 third-set kills to ISU's nine and maintained the lead the entire set. The Hornets took the third 25-21 and swept the Bengals 3-0.