COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado - Idaho State earned a win opening day of the Amy Svoboda Memorial classic beating Tennessee Tech 3-1 Thursday night.
Recap
Idaho State volleyball opened its weekend at the Air Force Tournament with another win Thursday afternoon, defeating Tennessee Tech in four sets, 25-21, 27-25, 19-25, 25-17, inside Cadet East Gym.
The Bengals improved to 5-2 on the season, earning their third consecutive victory and continuing a strong start to September. Idaho State used a balanced offensive attack and a strong presence at the net, finishing with 52 kills on .211 hitting and eight total blocks.
Idaho State grabbed control early with a 25-21 win in the opening set before the two sides battled through a tight second. The Bengals produced their best offensive set to that point with 17 kills on .270 hitting and fought through four ties and two lead changes to edge the Golden Eagles, 27-25, for a 2-0 match advantage.
Tennessee Tech responded in the third, hitting .244 on its way to a 25-19 win, but Idaho State quickly put the match away in the fourth. The Bengals saved their best offensive frame for last, putting down 15 kills on .282 hitting, while the defense forced Tennessee Tech into eight errors and held the Golden Eagles to just .061 hitting. ISU pulled away for a 25-17 win to close the match.
Ava Brickner led a balanced Bengal offense with 11 kills, while Jaydin Watts continued her efficient start to the season with 10 kills and just one error on 21 attacks, hitting a match-best .429. Watts also added four total blocks, including one solo, to finish with 12.5 points.
Mia Walsh turned in another strong all-around performance with 10 kills, 17 digs, three block assists and a service ace. Abby McClain added eight kills, while Isabella Beatty provided a spark with five kills on .286 hitting and a team-high five total blocks. Annelie Wilson chipped in four kills on .250 hitting and six digs.
Idaho State split its setting duties between Kadence Marsh and Nora Waddoups, with Marsh recording 27 assists and six digs and Waddoups adding 16 assists.
Defensively, Walsh's 17 digs led the Bengals, while Aspen Boice added 12 and Jenna Werbelow finished with nine. ISU held Tennessee Tech to .166 hitting for the match and forced 31 Golden Eagle attacking errors.
Bengal Bites
Next Up
The Bengals will compete against Little Rock in day two of the Amy Svoboda Memorial Classic. You can follow along with LiveStats.
