Gallery: (11-3-2022) ISU vs Eastern Washtington VB
POCATELLO, Idaho – Idaho State Volleyball returned to Reed Gym with a Roar Thursday evening, sweeping the Eastern Washington Eagles 3-0 (27-25, 25-21, 27-25).
The Bengals improve to 12-12 (4-7 BSC) and the Eagles fall to 9-14 (4-7 BSC). Idaho State is now tied with EWU for 7th place in the conference standings with five matches to play.
The previous meeting of the programs was in October in Cheney where the Eagles swept the Bengals. Headed into the match in Reed, the Bengals looked to even the season series.
After battling back and forth for 40 points, Idaho State trailed the Eagles 23-21 late in the first set. The Bengals kept fighting, taking advantage of a Taylor Burnham kill and an EWU error to tie the set back up at 23-23.
After forcing a 24-23 set point, the Eagles fought back and the teams headed to extras. Both squads battled back and forth before a massive kill by Emrie Satuala and another EWU error sealed the set victory for the Orange and Black.
In a theme that would continue for the remainder of the match, the two teams continued to fight back and forth trading points with neither team able to claw more than a two-point lead on the other until with a 18-16 lead. Taylor Burnham launched an attack down the link to give the Bengals a three-point 19-16 lead.
The Bengals took advantage of the lead and held on through the end of the set forcing EWU into an attack error, winning the set 25-21 and taking a 2-0 lead in the match.
In the third, the Bengals had EWU on the ropes, continuing to press the attack, but the Eagles weren't backing down without a fight.
While the first and second sets had 10 tie scores each, the third saw 14 tie scores and eight lead changes as both teams fought for control of the match. Eastern fought to continue the match and the Bengals were ready to send the Eagles home.
Idaho State finally gained some space after a kill by Burnham to take a 23-20 lead. The Bengals were ready to finish the match but the Eagles weren't rolling over. EWU clawed back and tied the match at 24-24. Eastern scored another point and the Bengals faced down a 25-24 EWU set point.
Idaho State didn't flinch.
The Bengals forced the Eagles into consecutive errors before Meline Robarge took a hard passed ball and launched it into the EWU who couldn't corral the ball, scoring the final point of the match and completing the Bengals' sweep of the Eagles.
Bengal Bites
· The Bengals ended the match with a .250 team hitting percentage and held the Eagles to .195. Seven of the nine Bengals that played in the match scored a kill.
· Meline Robarge led the team with a .412 attack percentage and eight kills. Between the two matches with Eastern Washington, Robarge averaged a .424 hitting percentage.
· The 34 tie scores and 13 lead changes is the most in a Bengal volleyball match this season.
· The Bengals had a match high .720 sideout percentage in set two going 16-22.
· The Bengals controlled the match at the net outblocking the Eagles 9-6. Emrie Satuala led the Bengals with six total blocks in the match.
Next Up
Saturday, Nov. 5 at 2:00 PM The Idaho Vandals come to Reed gym to for an ICCU Battle of the Domes match with the Bengals. The Match will be broadcast on ESPN+ with live stats and a KISU Broadcast available.
