ISU Volleyball Falls to Wyoming in Opening Match of Wyoming Invitational

Box Score | Live Stats vs. Pepperdine | Live Stats vs. McNeese State

POCATELLO, Idaho – The Idaho State volleyball team fell in four sets to Wyoming, 22-25, 16-25, 25-18 and 21-25 in its first match of the Wyoming Invitational at the UniWyo Sports Complex in Laramie, Wyo. This is the first time in the last three meetings that ISU has lost to the Cowgirls.

Senior outside hitter Tressa Lyman led the Bengals with a match-high 16 kills to go along with four assists and six digs. Senior libero Kaitlyn Johnson, who transferred from Wyoming following the 2014 season, recorded a match- and season-high 19 digs for ISU.

 "Hats off to Wyoming," Head Coach Rick Reynolds said. "They're well-coached and produced a great match. We were not able to get the stops at the net that we needed. I thought we had opportunities tonight to push through, but we were not focused enough to take advantage. Our staff is working hard to make sure that we are better prepared in the future."

In the first set, ISU jumped out to a 3-0 lead, starting with a kill from senior middle blocker Makenzie Filer and ending with two consecutive aces from junior outside hitter Bailey Bars. Wyoming responded with a 10-1 run to lead 10-4. That lead proved insurmountable for ISU as it was never able to fully recover. The Bengals fought to tie the set 16-all following a service ace from sophomore outside hitter Chloe Hirst, but the Cowgirls held on for the three-point win, 25-22.

The second set began with a 4-1 Cowgirl run, but the Bengals quickly answered to lead 7-5 following a kill from Lyman. Wyoming reclaimed the lead 13-10 following three UW kills and an ISU attacking error. Wyoming maintained its lead for the remainder of the second set and closed on a 5-1 run to win 25-16.

The Bengals led to start the third set, 3-1. Wyoming  was able to tie up the score 4-all and then snuck ahead following an ISU attacking error and two consecutive kills from UW's Kayla Slofkiss. ISU tied it at 9-all following a kill from Hirst, beginning a burst for the Bengals that translated to some big points.  A few kills from the Bengals and attacking errors from the Cowgirls put ISU in control 24-17. Junior setter Hayley Farrer finished the set with a kill to claim the set win, 25-18.

The fourth set was a battle from the beginning and featured nine ties and three lead changes. Neither team was able to create much separation until Wyoming capitalized on a few ISU errors and recorded a few kills to lead 15-11 halfway through the match. ISU battled back, capping an 8-3 run to take the lead 19-18 following a kill from Farrer. The lead was short-lived  however as the Cowgirls put together an 8-2 run to win the set 25-21 and claim the match.

"It's important that we learn the necessary lessons from these matches," Reynolds said. "I'm excited about the challenges ahead. Our schedule has been a great lesson creator, and tomorrow we have two more tough battles."

ISU is set to face Pepperdine Friday, Sept. 18 at 10 a.m. followed by McNeese State at 5 p.m. to close out the Wyoming Invitational, hosted by the University of Wyoming at the UniWyo Sports Complex in Laramie, Wyo.