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Listen Live vs. IdahoPhoto Gallery FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – The Idaho State volleyball team is headed to the semifinals of the Big Sky Conference tournament for the fourth-straight year after defeating No. 6 Eastern Washington in five, 26-28, 17-25, 25-12, 25-14 and 15-9. This was the first time since Sept. 21, 2012 that the Bengals have overcome a two-set deficit to win. Last time, ISU lost the first two sets to Northern Colorado 25-21 and 25-22, only to win the next three 25-21, 28-26 and 15-11.
Three Bengals finished with double-doubles, led by senior outside hitter
Tressa Lyman with a match-high 21 kills and 11 digs to go along with three blocks. Junior setter
Hayley Farrer was four kills shy of a triple-double, finishing with a match-high 53 assists, 10 digs and six kills with a .600 hitting percentage. Sophomore outside hitter
Chloe Hirst rounded out the double-doubles with 11 kills and 12 digs.
The first set started quick for ISU (22-9) as it raced to a 3-0 lead off three straight kills: two from senior outside hitter
Makenzie Filer and one from Farrer. However, the Eagles were not to be intimidated by the higher-seeded Bengals and closed the gap quickly, tying the match at 10 apiece following two ISU attacking errors. The set was back-and-forth, featuring 12 tied scores and five lead changes, but EWU pulled it out 28-26 to claim the first set.
The second set was all Eastern Washington (14-14) as the Eagles claimed the first point and only trailed twice, each time by only a point and both very early in the set. Lyman tied the set 4-all with a monster kill, but the Eagles suffocated the Bengals with a 9-3 run featuring four kills from EWU's Allie Schumacher. ISU was unable to shift the momentum and struggled to connect, registering a .053 hitting percentage in the second. The Eagles remained in control and cruised to a 25-17 second-set win. The Bengals headed into the break facing a 2-0 deficit for only the fourth time this season.
"We walked in the locker room and said, 'You're in control of the outcome'," said Head Coach
Rick Reynolds. "'Let's make sure we take care of that. It's on us to take responsibility for what we're doing.' That's what the girls did. They came out, took responsibility and attacked from point one."
Idaho State rose to the challenge and claimed the first point off a EWU service error and continued on to a 6-3 advantage with kills from three different Bengals. ISU took Eastern out of its game at the net, forcing the Eagles into a .053 hitting percentage with eight of 10 Eagles hitting .000 or below. ISU never relinquished its lead and cruised to the 25-13 third-set win.
The fourth set was eerily similar to the third as the Bengals broke a 2-all tie and went on an 8-4 run to lead 10-5 following two-straight ISU kills from Hirst and Filer. ISU steadily increased its lead, leading by as many as 13 at one point. The Eagles suffered a .034 hitting percentage while the Bengals were on fire, hitting .538 in the fourth with four players recording three or more kills. Idaho State finished with a big kill from Filer to close the set 25-13 and tie the match at two apiece.
In the final set, ISU barely slowed down, as the Bengals hit .409 and finished with 11 total kills. The Bengals rushed out to a 6-2 advantage and extended their lead to eight, 12-4, following a 6-2 run fueled by five Bengal kills. Four ISU players hit over .600, and the Bengals finished out the set to win 15-9 and claim the match, 3-2.
"I think it's huge," said Reynolds. "You could tell the girls got caught up in the moment again in the fifth set a little bit. But at the end of the day, it's huge. They're a tough group, and I'm glad they got to show it to our fans."
With the win, ISU advances to the semifinals and faces in-state rival Idaho tomorrow, Nov. 20 at 4:30 p.m. MST at Rolle Activity Center in Flagstaff, Ariz. Live viewing and stats links will be provided when they become available. Check this story later for updated information, or check Idaho State on
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