POCATELLO, Idaho – Inside an electric Reed Gym on Senior Night, Idaho State volleyball delivered one of the most emotional and dramatic victories in recent program memory, storming back from an 0–2 deficit to defeat Montana 3–2 (17–25, 20–25, 25–20, 25–22, 15–12). The win marked the Bengals' first reverse sweep of the 2025 season, their first reverse sweep since Sept. 22, 2022, and — fittingly — their second straight five-set victory, giving this senior class a farewell that will be remembered for years.
Before the match, Idaho State honored seniors Meline Shulikov, Marci Bell, Brinley Smith, and super senior Chloe Heimlicher, each of whom played a critical role in the comeback.
Head Coach Sean Carter opened his postgame remarks reflecting on the moment:
"I'm just really happy we were able to find a win for our seniors. We slowly got better throughout the match, and that's volleyball — you've gotta win three of those things, and we finally did."
First Two Sets: A Slow Start on an Emotional Night
The Bengals struggled out of the gate, falling behind 0–2 as Montana's offense surged early.
For Heimlicher, who played nearly the entire match in her final appearance at Reed Gym, the emotions were heavy before the turnaround:
"I love this team so much… it sucks that time is almost up, but there's a great one ahead. We just wanted to put on a show tonight."
Shulikov echoed the difficulty of the early sets but remained grounded:
"Sean reminded us it was all our own mistakes. We just had to settle in and play our game."
And once they did — the entire match flipped.
Set Three: The Seniors Lead the Charge
Idaho State steadied defensively and surged to a 25–20 win behind a wave of senior production.
Shulikov delivered, arguably, her best performance of the year:
Her emotional night was reflected in her words afterward:
"I just feel very grateful… being able to compete at this level with my best friends. It was such a great way to go out. I couldn't have asked for better."
Smith, also with 13 kills, found her confidence when her team needed it most:
"We had nothing to lose… I had to get over that hump and just run with the opportunity."
Set Four: Bell and Heimlicher Spark the Push to Five
Senior middle Marci Bell was steady and impactful with 9 kills and two key blocks, continuing what has been one of the strongest middle-blocker careers in ISU history.
Reflecting on her time as a Bengal, Bell said:
"My team pushes me to be my best every day. We've been through a lot together, and I'm so excited we won tonight."
Heimlicher added five digs and strong serve-receive work, anchoring the back row during the comeback. She spoke candidly about her mindset every time she checks in:
"Volleyball is such a team sport… I just try to be a good teammate every time I go in. Positive, loud, and helping the team however I can."
With their seniors leading, the Bengals won the fourth set 25–22 and forced a deciding fifth.
Set Five: Bengals Seal the Reverse Sweep
The deciding frame was tight until the final rally. Idaho State pulled out a 15–12 win thanks to a pair of late kills by Shulikov and Smith, a critical block at 13–12, and flawless execution in transition.
Carter emphasized how proud he was of the late resolve:
"They didn't let those early sets get to them. They hung in there… and those big plays in the fifth set were the difference."
Key Performances Beyond the Senior Class
While Senior Night took center stage, several underclassmen delivered massive performances:
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45 assists
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12 digs
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5 kills
Back Wall Stands Tall Again
The Bengals finished with 65 digs, led by:
Carter:
"We want our identity to be serving, blocking, and digging — and the back line did a terrific job."
Bengal Bites
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ISU completes its first reverse sweep of the season and first since Sept. 22, 2022.
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Bengals secure back-to-back five-set wins for the first time this season.
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Idaho State finishes the home schedule with a Senior Night classic.
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Senior stat lines:
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Shulikov: 13 kills, 11 digs, 19.0 pts
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Smith: 13 kills, 11 digs, 15.0 pts
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Bell: 9 kills, 2 blocks
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Heimlicher: 5 digs
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Waddoups: 45 assists, 12 digs, 5 kills
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Werbelow: 22 digs
Next Up: Big Sky Conference Tournament
Idaho State opens the postseason on Monday vs. No. 1 seed Northern Arizona. First serve is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
Carter on the challenge ahead:
"NAU is the best team in the league… but we're excited to get there at 0–0 and play with confidence."
Heimlicher added what the back-to-back five-set victories mean heading into tournament play:
"We've had so many close matches this year… these feel great. Perfect momentum going into next week."
