MOSCOW, Idaho – Idaho State volleyball opened Big Sky Conference play in convincing fashion Thursday night, sweeping in-state rival Idaho, 25-19, 25-23, 25-13, inside Memorial Gym.
The Bengals improved to 9-4 overall and 1-0 in Big Sky play, using an efficient and balanced offensive attack early before their defense took control down the stretch. Idaho State finished with 44 kills on .307 hitting and held the Vandals to .137 for the match.
Idaho State's offense set the tone from the opening serve. The Bengals put down 15 kills on .281 hitting in the first set, working through six ties and four lead changes before creating separation late for a 25-19 win.
The Bengals were tested even more in the second. Idaho responded with its best offensive set of the match, recording 18 kills on .333 hitting, and the two sides battled through nine ties and two lead changes. ISU answered with an even more productive offensive effort, totaling 17 kills on .333 hitting to grind out a 25-23 win and take a 2-0 advantage.
"Our offense carried us today at 44 percent kills until our block and D showed up halfway through the second set," Head Coach Sean Carter said. "It was great to see us put a team away in three in the third set. I felt we were getting better as the match went on."
That improvement was evident in the third.
After Idaho had kept pace offensively through the opening two frames, the Bengals slammed the door. Idaho State never trailed in the third set, holding the Vandals to just seven kills while forcing 12 attacking errors. Idaho finished the frame hitting -.167, and ISU rolled to a 25-13 victory to complete the road sweep.
One of the biggest performances of the night came from Gracie Vohs, who made an immediate impact after returning to full strength. Vohs led Idaho State with 11 kills, hitting .348 on 23 attacks while adding a block assist.
"Was great to have Gracie Vohs fully healthy to let her go today, and she showed up in a big way," Carter said. "I think she led us in kills."
Vohs was far from alone in powering an Idaho State attack that featured production throughout the lineup.
Jaydin Watts continued her outstanding start to the season with another dominant performance in the middle. Watts put down 10 kills with only one error on 14 attacks, hitting a match-best .643. She was equally disruptive defensively, recording five total blocks, including two solo stuffs, to finish with a match-high 13.5 points.
Mia Walsh provided another major piece of Idaho State's offensive production. Walsh finished just shy of double-digit kills with nine on 24 swings, committing only one attacking error to hit .333. She also added five digs and two block assists.
Freshman Bella Beatty added another efficient performance with eight kills on .353 hitting while contributing three total blocks. Between Watts, Vohs, Walsh and Beatty, the quartet combined for 38 of Idaho State's 44 kills.
Setters Nora Waddoups and Kadence Marsh kept that offense moving throughout the night. Waddoups led the Bengals with 19 assists, while Marsh added 16 as Idaho State totaled 37 assists on its 44 kills. Waddoups also recorded an ace and three digs, with Marsh adding five digs.
While the offense carried Idaho State through the early stages, the Bengal defense made sure there would be no comeback.
ISU finished with eight total blocks and 41 digs, with Aspen Boice once again leading the back row with a match-high 14 digs. Annelie Wilson added nine digs, three kills and an ace as Idaho State increasingly frustrated the Vandal attack.
The Bengals forced Idaho into 22 attacking errors for the match, including 12 in the final set alone. After Idaho hit .333 in the second, the Vandals plummeted to -.167 in the third as Idaho State turned a competitive opening two sets into a commanding finish.
For Carter, that progression may have been the most encouraging part of the night. The Bengals found ways to win with their offense early, made the necessary adjustments defensively, then delivered their most decisive set of the match when given the opportunity to finish it.
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