POCATELLO, Idaho – Down two sets and searching for answers, Idaho State turned to its depth, defense, and a change in approach.

The response was emphatic.

The Bengals stormed back from a 2-0 deficit to reverse sweep Portland State, 22-25, 23-25, 25-15, 25-13, 15-8, Saturday afternoon inside Reed Gym. Idaho State improved to 12-4 overall and 4-0 in Big Sky Conference play, overcoming its first dropped sets of league play to remain unbeaten in the conference. 

After sweeping their first three Big Sky opponents, the Bengals were tested immediately by a Portland State offense that found success throughout the opening two frames.

The Vikings put down 16 kills on .204 hitting in the first set, while Idaho State committed seven attacking errors in a back-and-forth frame featuring seven ties and three lead changes. Portland State eventually created enough separation to take the opener, 25-22. 

The second was even tighter, featuring 10 ties and six lead changes. Portland State produced 20 kills on .311 hitting, its best offensive set of the afternoon, and held off Idaho State late for a 25-23 victory and a commanding 2-0 match lead. 

For Head Coach Sean Carter, Portland State's ability to stay in system was a major factor in the early deficit.

"In set one and two, they were as high potent of an offense as we've seen yet this year," Carter said. "They had 16 kills and 20 kills individually in those sets. We weren't getting them out of system as much as we thought."

The Bengals needed something different, and Carter wasn't afraid to make changes.

Idaho State adjusted its serving strategy, mixing in shorter serves designed to force the Vikings forward before attacking them with deeper serves. The Bengals also turned to their bench, with Tana Howard and Ashlyn Smith taking on expanded roles as ISU looked for a spark.

"We don't win the match if Ashlyn doesn't go off," Carter said. "She had six kills on eight attempts for 75 percent scoring, which is amazing. And then Tana had 50 percent kills. We don't win the match if those guys don't come in and play well."

The changes paid off immediately.

Facing a must-win third set, Idaho State put down 16 kills on .282 hitting while holding Portland State to just eight kills on .027 hitting. The Bengals pulled away for a 25-15 victory, extending the match and beginning a complete reversal of momentum. 

"I thought we all played really well," Mia Walsh said. "The first two sets were a little rough, but we just kind of came together and were like, 'We can play better than this.' We all knew we could, and then we did it."

Idaho State was even better in the fourth. The Bengals hit .324 with 15 kills and only three attacking errors, while their defense completely shut down the Viking attack. Portland State finished with just six kills and seven errors, hitting -.026 in the frame as ISU rolled to a 25-13 win to force a fifth. 

The Bengals never let the momentum leave their side.

Idaho State closed the match on a 30-11 run dating back to a 10-10 tie in the fourth set. In the fifth, ISU delivered its most efficient offensive frame of the afternoon, putting down 10 kills on .333 hitting while holding Portland State to four kills. The Bengals raced to a 15-8 win, completing the reverse sweep.

"I'm really proud of us for flipping it around," Jaydin Watts said. "We've gone through the last few games just winning in three and going home. So for us to be down two and figuring out a way to win was just amazing."

The numbers showed just how dramatically the match changed. Portland State recorded 36 kills over the opening two sets, but Idaho State limited the Vikings to only 18 across the final three. After hitting .311 in the second, PSU was held to .027, -.026 and .143 over the final three frames. 

"Our serving was a big difference in slowing down their middles," Carter said. "Once our kids get an idea of, 'Hey, that's where the sets go,' and they can be on time, it just makes it way harder for them to deal with our defense."

Watts led Idaho State offensively with 15 kills on .464 hitting, committing just two errors on 28 attacks. The senior also added six block assists and two digs, finishing with a team-high 18 points. 

On the defensive side, Watts credited Idaho State's ability to settle in and recognize what Portland State was trying to do.

"In the first two sets we were a little frantic when it came to blocking," Watts said. "After the third set and so on, we were able to give away their tells. I think just focusing on where their players were at the time and making a jump on it faster than they could."

Walsh turned in one of her most complete performances of the season, finishing with 13 kills on .324 hitting and 18 digs, with the 18 digs marking a career high. She also added two solo blocks, three block assists and an ace for 17.5 points. 

Walsh credited a change in mindset for her defensive improvement as the match progressed.

"I just feel like I was more ready," Walsh said. "The first few sets I wasn't really expecting it to come to me, so when it did, I just wasn't ready for it. The next ones I really focused on, 'This ball's coming to me,' just so I'm ready to move whichever way I need to."

Abby McClain gave Idaho State a third player in double figures with 10 kills and added six block assists, while Howard provided nine kills on .278 hitting and two blocks. 

Smith proved to be one of the difference-makers off the bench. She put down six kills without an error on eight attacks, hitting a match-best .750, while adding five block assists.

"It just, what had been working for us was clearly not working through the first two sets," Carter said. "The trust I have in other players and how hard they're working in practice was like, 'We're going to try something different and see how it goes.'"

That depth extended throughout the lineup. Bella Beatty added four kills, while Gracie Vohs finished with three. For Carter, having multiple options available when the Bengals needed to change the match was another encouraging sign.

"Having the bench that we have and the players and the depth that we have on our team, and hopefully we all just care more about the team than me and what I'm trying to do right now, will really hopefully propel us to give us a chance to compete for a championship," Carter said.

Idaho State also made a significant adjustment at setter, moving to a 5-1 with Nora Waddoups, and the sophomore responded with one of her strongest performances of the season.

Waddoups dished out a season-high 45 assists and added 15 digs for her fifth double-double of the season, tying Kadence Marsh for the team lead. She also put down five kills without an error on eight attacks, hitting .625. 

"I think she is an amazing player," Watts said. "She is someone who I think brings not only energy, but just great feedback everywhere, and she's also positive."

Behind the block, Aspen Boice continued to anchor the Bengal defense with a match-high 26 digs, while adding eight assists and an ace. Walsh added her career-high 18 digs and Waddoups finished with 15 as Idaho State totaled 89 digs, compared with 71 for Portland State. 

Idaho State also controlled the net as the match progressed. The Bengals finished with 15 total blocks, led by six block assists apiece from Watts and McClain. Smith added five block assists, while Walsh finished with five total blocks. 

The Bengals finished the afternoon with 68 kills on .257 hitting, and their offense became more efficient in every set. ISU progressed from .159 in the first to .237 in the second, .282 in the third, .324 in the fourth and .333 in the decisive fifth. 

The comeback also gave Idaho State just its fourth win over Portland State in the last six seasons, while keeping the Bengals perfect through four matches of Big Sky play.

Bengal Bites

• ISU outscored Portland State 65-36 over the final three sets and ended the match on a 30-11 run
• The Bengals held Portland State to .027 hitting in the third set and -.026 in the fourth. 
• Mia Walsh recorded a double-double with 13 kills and 18 digs, while adding five total blocks.
• Nora Waddoups finished with a double-double of 45 assists and 15 digs, adding five kills on .625 hitting.
• Ashlyn Smith provided six kills on eight errorless swings, hitting .750, and added five block assists.
• Aspen Boice led all players with 26 digs and added eight assists.
• The Bengals improved their hitting percentage in every set, going from .159 in the first to .333 in the fifth. 
• After Portland State recorded 36 kills over the first two sets, Idaho State held the Vikings to 18 total kills over the final three.
• ISU begins conference play 4-0 for the first time since 2018