Idaho State Downs Northwestern in Three Set Sweep

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POCATELLO, Idaho – The Idaho State volleyball team swept Northwestern, 25-23, 25-22 and 25-22 Friday afternoon at Bronco Gym in Boise, Idaho in their second match of the Boise State Invitational. The win marked the Bengals first win over a Power Five conference team since they defeated Georgia Tech 3-0 on Sept. 6, 2013.

Senior middle blocker Makenzie Filer led the Bengals with a game-high 13 kills and a .480 hitting percentage in addition to a season-high eight blocks. Senior outside hitter Tressa Lyman recorded her second-consecutive double-double of the season with 10 kills and 12 digs as well as four blocks.

"I thought the team played very well," said Head Coach Rick Reynolds. "Our rhythm wasn't the best today, but our energy and effort were really high once again. The team responded well to the things that Northwestern was doing and made some subtle adjustments so that we were able to be efficient and effective in what we were doing."

In the first set, the Bengals were slow to get started, falling behind four points four separate times before going on a 4-0 run behind two kills from Filer, a kill from sophomore outside hitter Chloe Hirst and service ace from junior outside hitter Bailey Bars to tie the set 12-all. ISU wasn't able to take the lead until senior libero Kaitlyn Johnson served an ace to go up 15-14.

NU responded with a 6-1 run that featured two Wildcat kills and three separate ISU attacking errors to go up 20-16, but the Bengals worked their magic and finished on a 9-3 run to win the set, 25-23.

The second set was quite similar to the first; neither team was able to gain much separation until Idaho State secured a four-point cushion, 20-16, following a kill from Bars. NU tied the score up at 21-all following four straight Wildcat kills, but ISU once again closed out with a 4-1 run to earn the second set win, 25-22.

The third set was back-and-forth, featuring 11 ties and six lead changes. The Bengals broke the 11th and final tie (18-18) off a kill from sophomore outside hitter Marissa Todd, and Northwestern was unable to overcome the late-match run. ISU won the set 25-22 to seal the sweep.

"We need to continue to strive to find our level of excellence on the court," Reynolds said. "We need to continue to take steps forward in that process. I'm excited to pick up a win and realize that it's important that we focus on the simple things that will allow us to improve daily."

Idaho State returns to the court Saturday for their third and final match in the Boise State Invitational at Bronco Gym in Boise, Idaho. The Bengals face the Islanders of Texas A&M – Corpus Christi at 2:30 p.m. Saturday afternoon.