ISU Opens Conference Play with a 3-0 Sweep of Montana State

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POCATELLO, Idaho – The Idaho State volleyball team swept Montana State in the Big Sky conference opener Thursday night in Bozeman, Mont. 25-17, 25-20 and 30-28. The Bengals (9-6, 1-0 BSC) were led by senior outside hitter Tressa Lyman with 14 kills, five digs and two block assists; junior setter Hayley Farrer moved in to ninth place all-time in ISU history after notching 32 assists on the night.

"We are excited to pick up our first win in the Big Sky," Head Coach Rick Reynolds said. "The team really battled tonight and found a way to finish."

Montana State (2-7, 0-1 BSC) started the first with a 2-0 lead following an ISU service error and an ace, but the Bengals were able to overtake the Bobcats and build a sizeable five-point lead, 15-10 following a kill from senior middle blocker Makenzie Filer. MSU put together a 3-0 run cut the lead to two, 15-13, but the Bengals finished the set on a 10-4 run to seal the win, 25-17 behind Lyman's eight kills and a team .394 hitting percentage. Sophomore outside hitter Chloe Hirst also came up big in the opening set, notching three kills and six digs.

In the second, Idaho State fell behind early and trailed MSU by four, 11-7. The Bengals fought hard to even the score, 19-all following a kill from junior outside hitter Bailey Bars, and continued their dominance and finished the set on a 14-5 run to claim the second-set win, 25-20.

The third set was a different story; Idaho State gained the advantage early and built a sizeable five-point lead, 16-11, following a service ace from Lyman and an MSU service error. Montana State responded with a 10-4 run to steal the lead, 21-20, for the first time in the third set. The squads traded point-for-point and neither team was able to put the set away as MSU clung to its one-point lead. Idaho State broke a 28-all tie and capitalized on two consecutive Bobcat attacking errors to gain the advantage and win the set and match point.

Idaho State returns home for its second Big Sky conference match and its first match at home at Reed Gym since Sept. 1. The Bengals face Weber State Saturday, Sept. 26 at 7 p.m. at Reed Gym.

"We are looking forward to coming home for our first Big Sky match in Reed Gym," said Reynolds. "We need our fans to rise up and come out to rock Reed."