Strong Finish Not Enough in Loss to Weber State

 
POCATELLO, Idaho- It wasn't the start Idaho State volleyball coach Sammi Stuart wanted to see but the ending showed the resilience of the Bengal volleyball team. After dropping the first two sets 25-23 and 25-7, Idaho State battled back to win set 3, 25-14, and fall in a back-and-forth set 4, 29-27.

 "We ended better than we started," Stuart said. "We just need to keep grinding and being resilient."

Taylor Meeks led the Bengals with 16 kills while Raegan Steiner and Brooke Pehrson each had nine. Pehrson also had seven blocks. Andri Dewey had 38 assists and Haylie Keck added 22 digs.

The Bengals finished with a hitting percentage of .178 for the match. After only hitting .175 in set 1 and -.067 in set 2, Idaho State hit .278 in set 3 and .275 in set 4. Weber State was held to a hitting percentage of .045 in the Bengals third set victory.

In the first set, the Bengals fell behind 12-5, 17-9, 18-11 and 19-12. Idaho State then scored seven of the next eight points to cut the Weber State lead to 20-19. Idaho State would cut the WSU lead to 24-23 before Weber State earned the set 1 win.

Idaho State fell behind 15-3 in set 2 and was never able to recover. In the third set, Weber State opened with a 2-0 lead. Idaho State then scored the next five points on kills by Meeks, Steiner and Duquesne Moratzka.

Weber State would tie the set at seven and eight but they were never able to take the lead. Leading 10-9, Idaho State scored the next five points to take a 15-9 lead after solid serves by Pehrson.

Idaho State extended its lead to 19-11 and 20-12 and won the set 25-14 on a kill by Aubrie Steiner.

In the fourth set, neither team had bigger than a three point lead. When one team went up by two or three points the other would rally to tie the score. The Bengals led 23-20 but the Wildcats scored the next three points to tie the game. Idaho State would have set point twice at 24-23 and 25-24 but the Wildcats were able to counter the Bengal attack to keep the set alive to earn the 29-27 win.

Idaho State plays at Northern Colorado on Nov. 9.