POCATELLO, Idaho – Idaho State (10-7, 4-0 BSC) defeated Idaho (8-8, 2-2 BSC) in four sets (22-25, 25-16, 25-15, 26-24) Saturday night to solidify its spot atop the Big Sky Conference ranks. The Bengals neutralized the Vandals with a season-high 15 blocks to remain undefeated in conference play.
"Fortunately we've went out and executed and done the things we've needed to do, and we're 4-0," said Head Coach
Rick Reynolds. "Tonight was not our best volleyball, but it created opportunities for us to have some success. I'm proud of our defense and I'm proud of our serve tonight. I thought they did some really good stuff."
Abby Garrity led the Bengals' attack with 15 kills on 51 attacks for a .255 hitting percentage. The senior also had seven digs, four blocks and five service aces. She eclipsed 100 career blocks.
Taylor Meeks was the only other Bengal with a double-digit kill count with 10 on the night. She also collected six blocks.
Brooke Pehrson,
Nicole Lee and
Raegan Steiner tallied nine, seven and six kills respectively. The trio combined for 15 blocks in the match and Pehrson led all hitters with a .400 hitting percentage.
Chelsea Johnson was one dig shy of another double-double with 43 assists and nine digs.
Nikole Cook,
Mahala Bradburn and
Haylie Keck all reached double-digit dig totals with Keck leading the team at 24.
The Bengals matched the Vandals in kills at 48 despite having 12 less attempts on the night. They also had eight fewer hitting errors and hit at a .200 clip compared to Idaho's .134. ISU also held the advantage in digs (71-64) and had two more blocks with 15.
Garrity put the Bengals on the board first to start the match. The Bengals were up 6-4 before Idaho won five straight to go up 9-6. The Bengals trailed several points afterwards, but were able to even the score at 17-all on a kill by Steiner.
They regained the lead at 19-17, but relinquished it once again on a five-point streak by the Vandals. ISU challenged UI down 23-22, but Idaho's Delaney Hopen tallied an ace to put the Vandals up 1-0 with a 25-22 win.
Idaho State did not record an attacking error until they led Idaho 14-7 in the second set. Four Bengals had at least one kill during that span. They continued to increase their lead with several streaks and Garrity evened the match at 1-1 with a kill to end the second set 25-16.
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After the break, the Bengals erupted for a six-point run and led the game 9-4 after forcing a timeout from Idaho. ISU's Johnson tallied two aces during that span.
After seven consecutive points by ISU, UI took their final timeout down 16-6. The Vandals failed to come within seven points for the remainder of the set and fell 25-15 on a kill by Garrity.
Idaho took the lead role to start the fourth, forcing an ISU timeout with their largest lead of the night at 11-6. The Bengals chipped away and tied the game at 14-14. The next six points were all won on errors with the teams remaining even at 17-17.
Idaho took a timeout down 18-17 and surged to a 20-18 lead immediately after. Idaho State would not regain the lead until 22-21 amid a four-point streak that put them up 23-21. The Vandals tied the game at 23-all and 24-all, but Garrity gave the Bengals the lead and an attacking error by Idaho sealed the win for Idaho State.
The Bengals return to Reed Gym next Tuesday to host Weber State University.
