ISU Volleyball Heads to Boise for Boise State Invitational

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POCATELLO, Idaho – The Idaho State Bengals hit the road for their second nonconference tournament of the season as they head to Boise State University for the Boise State Invitational Sept. 3-5 at Bronco Gym in Boise, Idaho. The Bengals are set to play Boise State on Thursday, Northwestern on Friday and Texas A&M – Corpus Christi on Saturday.
 
The Bengals improved to 2-2 on the season after a Tuesday night sweep of Utah Valley in ISU's home opener at Reed Gym. In each of the Bengals' wins this season, they have recorded more kills, blocks, assists and a higher hitting percentage then their opponents.
 
Currently, Idaho State is ranked second in the Big Sky Conference in assists (12.43/set) and kills (13.50/set). Several Bengals are making waves in the BSC as well, as junior Hayley Farrer leads the conference in assists with a 10.93 assists per set average, senior Makenzie Filer ranks fourth in hitting percentage with a .368 hitting average and senior Tressa Lyman ranks fifth in kills with 4.07 per set.
 
ABOUT BOISE STATE      
This will be the 63rd meeting between Idaho State and Boise State. The series is tied 31-all, and Boise State won the last match in Boise in 2010 3-1. Boise State sits at 1-2 on the season after winning a match against Portland State 3-0 and dropping a 3-0 decision to No. 7 Washington and a 3-1 final to Gonzaga.
 
Boise State returns 10 letter winners and five starters in addition to a libero from last year's squad that finished fifth in the Mountain West with an 11-7 conference record and an 18-12 overall record. 
 
Notable returners for the Broncos include All-Mountain West performers Sarah Baugh (setter), Maddy O'Donnell (middle blocker) and Sierra Nobley (outside hitter). Nobley was also named the MW freshman of the year, while Kaitlyn Oliver received MW newcomer of the year honors.
 
The Broncos are coached by seventh year Head Coach Shawn Garus. Garus' holds a 95-94 overall record at Boise State
 
ABOUT NORTHWESTERN
This will be the first meeting between the Bengals and the Wildcats. Northwestern returns 12 letter winners from last year's squad that finished 16-15 overall with a 6-14 mark in Big 10 Conference play.
 
The Wildcats are 3-0 on the season after three straight sweeps of Wake Forest, New Hampshire and Loyola-Chicago at the Rambler Challenge in Chicago, Ill. Northwestern is led by sophomore outside hitter Symone Abbott who leads the team in kills with 37 with a 4.11 kills/set average and a .370 hitting percentage. Sophomore setter Taylor Tashima has recorded 103 assists for a 11.44 assists/set average.
 
Northwestern is coached by Keylor Chan who is in his 16th season with the Wildcats and carries a 225-244 overall record.
 
ABOUT TEXAS A&M - CORPUS CHRISTI
This will be the second meeting between the Bengals and the Islanders. ISU won the previous meeting in 2005, 3-2.
 
Texas A&M - Corpus Christi returns for the 2015 season after going 19-16 overall with an 11-5 mark in the Southland Conference last season. So far, the Islanders are 4-0 on the season after defeating Grambling (3-0), Campbell (3-0), UT Arlington (3-2) and UTRGV (3-1).
 
The Islanders are led by senior outside hitter Ivy Baresh who averaging nearly a double-double in kills and assists. So far, she has recorded 38 kills on a .246 hitting percentage to go along with 39 digs for a 3.25 digs/set average.
 
Texas A&M-CC is coached by Head Coach Tony Graystone who enters his seventh season with the Islanders.