Bengals Outlast Boise State in Five-Set Thriller

Idaho St. ISU 4-2,0-0 Big Sky

Boise St. Boise 3-3,0-0 Pac-12

Idaho St. ISU

4-2,0-0 Big Sky

Final

Sep. 05, 2026

Boise St. Boise

3-3,0-0 Pac-12

Set Scores
Team	1	2	3	4	5	F
Idaho St. ISU	18	25	25	23	15	(3)
Boise St. Boise	25	22	21	25	12	(2)

Summary
Box Score

Wichita State Athletics

Game Recap: Women's Volleyball | 9/5/2026 7:40:00 PM | Ryan Cheney, ISU Sports Information

BOISE, Idaho – Idaho State volleyball closed out the Boise State Classic in dramatic fashion Saturday, taking down host Boise State in five sets, 18-25, 25-22, 25-21, 23-25, 15-12, inside ExtraMile Arena.

The Bengals improved to 4-2 on the season, battling through 25 ties and nine lead changes to earn the five-set victory in front of 1,488 fans. Idaho State finished with 60 kills, 101 digs and 12 total blocks while holding Boise State to a .139 hitting percentage.

After Boise State took the opening set 25-18, the Bengals responded immediately. Idaho State evened the match with a 25-22 victory in the second before taking control with a 25-21 win in the third.

The Broncos answered in a tightly contested fourth set. Nine ties and four lead changes highlighted the frame before Boise State escaped with a 25-23 win, sending the Bengals to their first fifth set of the season.

With the match on the line, Idaho State delivered. The deciding frame featured five ties and two lead changes before the Bengals created the separation they needed down the stretch. ISU put down eight kills in the fifth and closed out the Broncos 15-12, securing the road win.

Ava Brickner led a balanced Idaho State attack with a match-high 16 kills, while three other Bengals reached double figures. Jaydin Watts was outstanding in the middle, recording 11 kills on .360 hitting with five block assists, while Annelie Wilson delivered one of her strongest all-around performances of the young season with 11 kills on .357 hitting and 14 digs.

Tana Howard also reached double figures with 11 kills and five block assists, while Ashlyn Smith added six kills and five block assists.

Setter Kadence Marsh turned in a career performance running the Bengal offense, finishing with 48 assists, 19 digs, two service aces and two blocks. Her 48 assists helped Idaho State produce four double-digit kill performances across the lineup.

Defensively, the Bengals were everywhere. Idaho State's 101 digs marked a massive team effort, led by Aspen Boice with 26. Marsh followed with 19, Jenna Werbelow added 16, Wilson collected 14 and Claudia Antcliff chipped in 12 as five Bengals reached double-digit digs.

The Bengal block also played a major role in slowing Boise State. Idaho State recorded 12 total blocks and forced the Broncos into 33 attacking errors, including 12 in the third set and six in the deciding fifth.

Bengal Bites

Ava Brickner led ISU with a match-high 16 kills.
Jaydin Watts recorded 11 kills on .360 hitting and five block assists.
Annelie Wilson finished with 11 kills, 14 digs and a .357 hitting percentage.
Tana Howard added 11 kills and five block assists.
Kadence Marsh totaled 48 assists, 19 digs and two aces.
Aspen Boice led the Bengals with 26 digs.
Five Bengals finished with double-digit digs as ISU totaled 101 as a team.

Up Next

Idaho State will return to action next weekend at the Amy Svoboda Memorial Classic hosted by the Air Force Academy in USAFA, Colorado. The Bengals open the tournament against Tennessee Tech on Thursday, Sept. 10 at 4 p.m.

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