POCATELLO, Idaho – Seniors
Tressa Lyman and
Makenzie Filer dominated in the Bengals final match of the Utah Classic Saturday afternoon at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City Utah. Idaho State defeated the Matadors in three sets, 26-24, 25-23 and 25-20 and leave the Utah Classic with a 1-2 record.
Lyman, who struggled hitting in ISU's first two matches, recorded 16 kills with a .324 hitting percentage against CSU Northridge. Filer came up big for the Bengals with 15 kills, six in the third set alone, and a match-high six blocks.
"I'm proud of the team's effort this weekend," Head Coach
Rick Reynolds said. "Ending the tournament on a win is good for us heading into this week. We have a lot of work to do going forward, and this was a great opportunity to see what areas we need to focus on. [Throughout the weekend] we made some subtle adjustments to our lineup, but our biggest focus was to keep attacking in all aspects of the game."
The Bengals attacked early and often and led the entire first set. The Matadors were able to tie up the match 24-all, but a kill and ace from sophomore outside hitter
Marissa Todd secured the 26-24 first set victory for Idaho State.
In the second set, Idaho State started slow, falling behind 5-1 before going on a 7-3 run to tie the set at eight-all. The two squads traded points until ISU took the lead for good off a kill by Filer that put the Bengals up 13-12. ISU excelled at the net, connecting on 15 of 41 attempts for a .317 hitting percentage and registering four blocks in the second set alone.
In the third and final set, Filer dominated at the next with six kills and a .500 hitting percentage in addition to three blocks. The Bengals never trailed in the final set, and cruised to a 25-20 victory for the set and match win.
In the first match of the day, the Bengals fell to a veteran Lipscomb squad out of the Atlantic Sun Conference in four sets, 25-20, 25-22, 24-26 and 25-23. Lyman led the Bengals with a game-high 16 kills along with 11 digs for her first double-double of the season. Sophomore outside hitter
Chloe Hirst recorded a career-high 12 kills for the Bengals on 22 attempts for a .500 hitting percentage.
In the first set, the Bison scored early and often and never allowed ISU to take the lead. Despite bettering Lipscomb in kills with 14 first-set kills to the Bison's 12, the Bengals lost the first 25-20.
In the second, ISU led for the majority of the set and pulled away by three, 18-15, after a kill by Lyman. Lipscomb closed the gap to tie the set at 19-all, forcing Idaho State to take a timeout. The Bison finished the set on a 6-2 run to claim the second set, 25-22, sending the Bengals into the break down two sets.
The Bengals won the third set 26-24 after a back-and-forth battle with six ties and four lead changes. Lyman and junior outside hitters hitter
Sommer Reeder and Baily Bars each recorded three kills apiece in the set win.
In the fourth set, ISU recorded more kills, a higher hitting percentage and more assists than the Bisons, but they weren't able to close the gap to take the lead. The Bengals were within three points the entire set and lost the fourth 25-23.
Idaho State returns to Pocatello for their home opener, Tuesday, Sept. 1 at 6 p.m. at Reed Gym. Tuesday's game will be themed Orange Out, and the first 200 fans will receive an ISU volleyball t-shirt.
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