Game Notes | Live Stats | Live Video
POCATELLO, Idaho – The Idaho State volleyball team opens the 2017 season on the road this weekend in Milwaukee, Wis. at the Pepsi Panther Invitational, hosted by Milwaukee. The Bengals will play three matches in two days, facing Virginia Tech, Milwaukee and South Dakota State.
The Bengals open the 2017 season against Virginia Tech, Friday, Aug. 25 at 9 a.m. MST followed by a 6:30 p.m. MST match at the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee. Idaho State closes the Pepsi Panther Invitational with a match against South Dakota State on Aug. 26 at 10 a.m. MST.
ABOUT THE BENGALS
· The Idaho State Bengals return seven letter winners and five starters, including a libero, from last season's squad that finished 16-15 overall and made its fifth-straight trip to the Big Sky Conference tournament.
· ISU returns two all-conference performers in
Chloe Hirst and
Marissa Dance, and returns 2016 starters
Abby Garrity,
Brooke Pehrson and libero
Haylie Keck.
· The Bengals are led by third-year Head Coach
Rick Reynolds, who carries a 39-25 overall record with ISU.
OPPONENT PREVIEW
Virginia Tech
· The Hokies return four starters and a libero from the 2016 squad that finished 13-18 overall with a 8-12 record in the ACC, good for 9th.
· VT returns its top middle blocker in Cara Cunningham, who led the team with 106 blocks last season. The Hokies also return its top setter in Rhegan Mitchell who finished with 570 assists last season, and they return their top defensive specialist in Carol Raffety who recorded 481 digs on the season.
· Virginia Tech is led by first season head coach Jill Wilson.
· This is the first time in program history that Idaho State has faced Virginia Tech.
Milwaukee
· The Panthers return eight letter winners and five starters from last season's squad that finished 15-13 overall with a 9-7 record in conference play, good for fifth.
· Milwaukee returns 2016 Horizon League Freshman of the Year and All-Horizon League Team member Bridget Wallengerger who averaged 2.91 KPS, 1.08 BPS with a .259 hitting percentage. It also returns sophomore setter Jenn Dore and sophomore outside hitter Kylie Wilks, both of whom were selected to the 2016 Horizon League All-Freshmen team.
· The Panthers are coached by Head Coach Susie Johnson who is in her 11th season. Johnson is a Idaho State volleyball alum.
· This is the first time in program history that Idaho State has face Milwaukee.
South Dakota State
· The Jackrabbits return five starters and five letter winners from last season's team that finished 5-23 overall with a 4-12 mark in conference play.
· South Dakota State is led by Head Coach Nicole Cirillo who is in her third season at the helm of the program.
· This will be the second time in program history that the Bengals have faced the Jackrabbits. In the last meeting on Aug. 28, 2009, Idaho State defeated South Dakota State 3-1 at the UniWyo Cowgirl Classic in Laramie, Wyo.
FOLLOW THE ACTION
Live stats and a live video stream will be available for all three matches.
Click here for live
stats.
Click here for live
video.
