DENVER, Colorado – Idaho State (4-5) posted the second-highest hitting percentage in program history (.500) as it swept Saint Peter's (2-9) to open the Pioneer Showdown Friday afternoon. No ISU player hit lower than .333 for the match and five players hit .500 or better.
"The team did a great job of building a rhythm offensively as the match progressed," said Head Coach
Rick Reynolds. "We were able to create opportunities with our defense and converted really well."
Taylor Meeks set the tone for the Bengals. She went errorless on five attempts and recorded four kills and four blocks.
Nicole Lee led Idaho State in kills for the second time this season, tallying 12 on 20 attacks while committing just two errors.
Abby Garrity,
Brooke Pehrson and
Raegan Steiner had nine, eight and six kills respectively, and
Chelsea Johnson compiled 35 assists.
Idaho State took the lead in the first at 2-1 and never looked back. The Bengals led by 10 points at 19-9 and 21-11. The Peacocks made a late run, but lost 25-16 on a
Haylie Keck ace.
Saint Peter's battled early in the second, securing the lead twice in the opening stages. Idaho State tied the game at 3-3 before going on two five-point runs and forcing a timeout from the opposition. The Bengals already had 22 points before the Peacocks hit double digits, and they cruised to a 25-11 victory.
The Bengals hit a season-high .556 in the second set and earned three blocks.
"We did a great job of creating pressure with our serve," Reynolds said. "Our length and physicality played a big role at the net and forced them into errors."
Lee gave ISU a 1-0 lead to start the third, and the Bengals never relinquished the advantage. Four different players gained an ace for Idaho State and Lee continued to roll as she reached 12 kills. The Bengals completed the sweep with a 25-10 win.
Angelleyshik Curbelo led Saint Peter's with eight of SPU's 24 kills. Idaho State bested its opponent in every category. The Bengals held the Peacocks to 24 kills, 81 attacks, a .062 hitting percentage, 23 assists and 23 digs, which are all opponent season lows.
Idaho State committed just six errors on the day. One fewer error or one additional kill would have boosted the team to the best hitting percentage in ISU history. The 2003 squad posted a .506 hitting percentage against Providence in three sets.
"It is important we play to the standard we set daily in practice," Reynolds said. "We did this today."
Idaho State returns to the court to face Fairleigh Dickinson at 10 a.m. and Denver at 7 p.m. tomorrow.
Bengal Milestones
Kaia Rhodes recorded her first career kill.
