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POCATELLO, Idaho – The Idaho State volleyball team fell 3-0 to UT-Arlington in its final match of the Bruiser Showcase, hosted by Belmont in Nashville, Tenn. The Mavericks bested the Bengals 25-16, 25-23 and 25-20.
Idaho State (3-3) was led by senior outside hitter
Chloe Hirst with 10 kills and eight digs while sophomore
Haylie Keck led ISU with 13 digs. Sophomore middle blocker
Brooke Pehrson finished with nine kills off 15 attempts hitting .400 to go along with a match-high three service aces.
In the first set, ISU was slow to start at UT-Arlington (5-1) raced out to a 10-4 lead. The Bengals struggled to get into a flow offensively, hitting under .200, while the Mavericks connected for 16 kills hitting .464. 11 of ISU's 26 attempts were dug by UTA, but the Bengals were able to finish 10 attempts in the first set. Idaho State briefly cut the UTA's lead to four, 12-8, but that is the closest ISU would come in the first. The Mavericks cruised to the 25-16 first set win.
The Bengals responded early in the second set, setting the pace with a quick 11-4 advantage behind two service aces from Pehrson and multiple kills from Hirst,
Abby Garrity and
Taylor Meeks. Idaho State held a six-point lead late in the set, 21-15, but five Bengal errors tied the set at 22-all. UTA finished with a 3-1 run to claim the set 25-23.
Idaho State started the third set with a kill from Garrity, but that is the only lead ISU would hold in the final set. The Bengals finished with nine kills and 12 digs, but UTA countered with 16 kills and 19 digs, thwarting ISU's final attempts to claim the set. A late kill from Garrity brought ISU within two, 22-20, but two UTA kills and an ISU error gave the Mavericks the 25-20 third set win and the match win, 3-0.
UT Arlington was led by Zhanelle Geathers with a match-high 16 kills, while Kailyn Gilbreath added a match-high 34 assists.
Both Hirst and Garrity were named to the Bruiser Showcase All-Tournament Team.
"Congrats to UTA on playing a great match today," Head Coach
Rick Reynolds said. "We got what we earned today. It is important we continue to take steps forward in the process of growing. We are excited to see how we respond on Monday against a really good Utah Valley team."
Idaho State returns to Pocatello for its home opener Monday, Sept. 4 against Utah Valley at 6 p.m. in Reed Gym.
