Box Score PDF
DURHAM, N.H. – The Idaho State volleyball team fell to New Hampshire 3-1 in the final match of the Holly Young Invitational with scores of 25-15, 22-25, 18-25 and 21-15.
Junior
Chloe Hirst led the Bengals with 18 kills off a career-high 56 attempts, while sophomore
Abby Jensen posted her third double-double as a Bengal with 10 kills and 12 digs. Senior
Hayley Farrer finished with 46 assists on the night to go along with 17 digs.
"Tonight was a great volleyball match in a great environment," Head Coach
Rick Reynolds said. "Hats off to UNH. Their coaching staff is really strong and you can see why they've made the NCAA tournament the last three years."
Idaho State (5-8) struggled in the opening plays of the first set, falling behind 3-0 before a kill from Hirst put ISU on the board. The Bengals broke a nine-all tie with the Wildcats following a big kill from freshman
Nicole Lee that started a punishing run from Idaho State. ISU capitalized on multiple UNH errors and finished the set on a 16-6 run for the 25-15 first set win.
In the second set, Idaho State struck first with a kill from Hirst, but it was New Hampshire (7-7) that gained the early advantage with a 10-6 lead. The Bengals were able to cut the lead to one, 15-14 following a 7-1 run fueled by two ISU kills and four UNH attacking errors. ISU tied the set up 16-all following a kill from freshman
Brooke Pehrson and another kill from Jensen, but the Wildcats finished the set on a 9-6 run to claim the 25-22 win.
Following the break, Idaho State struggled to connect at the net, hitting just .061 for 11 kills. Despite the Bengals' struggles hitting, they still held an 18-14 advantage midway through the set, but the Bengals went cold and UNH put together an 11-0 run to close the set and win 25-18.
In the fourth set, the Bengals hit a whopping .343, connecting for 15 kills off 35 attempts, yet ISU never led in the final set. New Hampshire delivered the first kill and kept Idaho State at bay the remainder of the set hitting .382 to earn the 25-21 set win and 3-1 match win.
"I am really proud of the fight our team showed tonight," Reynolds said. "We made some adjustments and they stepped up to the plate."
ISU's Hirst earned all-tournament honors for her performance at the Holly Young Invitational. The Bengals return home to open Big Sky conference play Sept. 23 against visiting Portland State at 7 p.m. in Reed Gym.
