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NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Idaho State volleyball team bested Bruiser Showcase host Belmont at home with a 3-2 match win Friday evening in Nashville, Tenn. The Bengals shined defensively, posting a season-high 67 digs to go along with 9.0 team blocks and nine service aces.
Idaho State (3-2) was led by senior outside hitter
Chloe Hirst with a team-high 17 kill and a team-high 15 digs for her third-straight double-double. Both senior
Marissa Dance and freshman
Taylor Meeks hit over .400 for ISU, as Dance recorded 8 kills of 18 attempts with no errors to hit .444 while Meeks connected for 9 kills off 17 attempts with just one error to hit .471.
"It was a great effort tonight against a really strong program," Head Coach
Rick Reynolds said. "Belmont played at a really high level and made us earn every point."
In the first set, Belmont (4-2) raced out to a 9-2 advantage, but a 9-2 Bengal run that was fueled by four straight Belmont attacking errors tied the set at 11-all. ISU then scored four unanswered with a kill from HIrst, a kill from junior
Ashlyn Van Every and a service ace from Van Every. The Bengals' lead was short-lived however, as the Bruins battled back to tie the match at 16-all. Both squads traded point-for-point and were deadlocked at 24-all, but a kill from junior
Abby Garrity and a Bruin attacking error gave ISU the 26-24 first set win.
The second set was a point-for-point battle the entire way with six lead changes and nine ties. With the set tied 18-all, ISU went on a 4-0 run, but the Bruins countered, outscoring ISU 7-1 to close the set and claim the 25-23 second set win.
Belmont took the third set 25-20, and in the fourth set it was another point-for-point battle. The fourth set featured six lead changes and 14 ties, but the set ended in favor of the Bengals. Idaho State presented a balanced scoring offense with six players recorded at least one kill, and four recording at least three kills. Garrity led the offensive push with four kills, while Van Every posted a .750 hitting percentage. The Bengals took the fourth set 26-24 to force a fifth set.
In the fifth set, Belmont took the early lead 6-3, but Idaho State countered and outscored the Bruins 12-4 to claim the fifth set 15-10 and win the match, 3-2.
"We are continuing to take steps forward in the process of developing continuity and rhythm," Reynolds said.
Belmont was led by Arianna Person with a match-high 21 kills, while Emily Richards posted a match-high 29 kills.
