Idaho State Falls to New Mexico in Final Match of USC Classic

Box Score

POCATELLO, Idaho – The Idaho State volleyball team fell to New Mexico 3-2 Saturday morning in its final match of the USC Classic at the Galen Center in Los Angeles, Calif. The Bengals cruised to a 2-0 lead after winning sets one and two 25-16 and 25-18 respectively, but the Lobos overcame the deficit and won the last three sets, 25-18, 25-18 and 17-15.

Senior outside hitter Tressa Lyman led the Bengals with match-highs in kills and digs with 17 each for her sixth double-double of the season. Junior outside hitter Bailey Bars recorded her first double-double of the season with 13 kills and 10 digs, and sophomore outside hitter Chloe Hirst came up big for ISU with 13 kills.

In the first set, ISU started strong, matching UNM point-for-point. The Bengals were able to create some separation, 12-8, following two ISU kills and an ace in addition to an attacking error from the Lobos. ISU never relinquished their first set lead and cruised to a 25-16 win.

The second set was similar to the first, as ISU recorded the first point off a kill from Bars. Neither team was able to pull away until a 6-0 Bengal run, sparked by two kills from Hirst, put ISU ahead 10-16. UNM cut the lead to three, 18-15 but was unable to close the gap. Idaho State finished on a 7-3 run to win the second set 25-18.

After the break, New Mexico bested the Bengals, sending the match to five sets. In the third set, ISU started with a 0-2 lead following a kill from Hirst and an ace from Bars. UNM capitalized on a few ISU errors and recorded multiple kills to pull away from a 4-4 tie, and the Lobos never trailed the rest of the set. ISU struggled to connect for kills, recording a .088 hitting percentage and 10 hitting errors in the third set. New Mexico capitalized for the 25-18 third set victory.

"New Mexico made some adjustments and executed really well," Head Coach Rick Reynolds said. "We made way too many unforced errors in the third set which gave them the momentum, and they ran with it."

That momentum carried UNM to a fourth set win, 25-18. Despite ISU's improved hitting with a .273 hitting percentage and only four attacking errors, the Bengals were unable to overcome a late 10-point deficit to the Lobos, forcing a fifth set.

The fifth set was close throughout, with five lead changes and 11 ties, neither team led by more than two points. ISU tied up the set 15-all following a kill from sophomore outside hitter Marissa Todd, but the Bengals finished the match with two consecutive errors to give the set and match win to New Mexico.

"It's important that we come back in the gym Monday prepared to work hard," Reynolds said. "My staff and I will do a better job of recreating situations similar to what we've been in over the course of the last week. We've got to make sure to find ways in practice to ensure that we're better prepared for these situations in the future."

Idaho State is back in action Thursday, Sept. 17 as it faces Wyoming at 6:30 p.m. in its first match of the Wyoming Invitational in Laramie, Wyo.