Bengals and Bears to Battle for First Place in the Big Sky

Pocatello, ID - Pack. Reed.

That has been the message echoed ad nauseam for Idaho State Volleyball's next matchup, one that will more than likely be for all the marbles. 

The Bengals are hosting the Northern Colorado Bears in a primetime matchup that Bruce Buffer, the Veteran Voice of the Octagon, would dub the "main event of the evening." Fighting out of Reed Gym, ISU is scheduled to tip off with UNC on Thursday, Nov. 14, at 7:00 PM. 

This matchup of #1 vs #2 will play a major role in deciding the Big Sky regular season champion. UNC (19-6, 10-2 BSC) is one game ahead of the Bengals (18-6, 9-3 BSC) in the conference standings.

ISU is responsible for one of the Bears' two conference losses so far, meaning that a win in Reed Gym on Thursday will give the orange and black the head-to-head edge for first place in the conference and a primo opportunity to secure the program's first regular season title since 2014. 

Just as was the case the last time these teams faced off, it will take a complete team effort to secure the victory over the opponent. Eight of Northern Colorado's ten conference wins were done in straight sets, and the Bengals and Bears each occupy one of the top four spots in most major Big Sky team categories.

Bengal fans are encouraged to get to Reed Gym early and in droves to support their volleyball squad as they look to continue what has been a historic season.

Re-Scouting the Bears
2024 Record: (19-6, 10-2 BSC)
2023 Record: (18-12, 12-4 BSC)
Last Matchup: vs. Portland State (UNC W, 3-0)
Last Matchup vs ISU: September 28, 2024 (ISU W, 3-2)
Notable Players: The Bears occupy the top two slots in the conference for hitting percentage, behind junior Isabel Bennet (.349) and senior Maddie Davies (.343). Graduate student Syd Cole also holds a firm lead on both total assists (952) and assists per set (10.13).

The match will be broadcast on ESPN+, and more details can be found below.

ISU vs. UNC
When: Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024 // 7:00 PM
Where: Reed Gym, Idaho State University

ESPN+ Broadcast // LiveStats

BENGAL BITES 

• Senior Jamie Streit joined Sadie Bluth on the list of Bengals to record 1,000 kills in her career. After last week's matchup against Weber State, Bluth is the current active leader at 1,074 and Streit sits at 1,006.

• Fellow senior Aliyah Sopo'aga is also on track to reach a significant career milestone. The senior setter is already sitting at a career-high 898 assists on the season and needs just 11 to reach 2,000 in her career. Averaging another career high of 9.35 assists per set this season, Sopo'aga is well on track to hit this mark soon.

• After reclaiming the national lead in total blocks last week, the Bengals continue to reject more attacks than any other team in the country, with 293.0 total on the season. Sophomore Jaydin Watts sits at ninth place in all of D1 volleyball with 136 blocks of her own this year.