Volleyball defeats rival Montana
University of Idaho Press Release
The University of Idaho volleyball team (7-1) claimed another road match, defeating former Big Sky-rival Montana (5-4) on the Grizzlies' home court.
The Vandals won 15-9, 15-5, 10-15, 15-11 to run their win streak
to six matches. The win also lifts UI's record to 3-0 in road
competition. The match was not without drama as the teams were
knotted at 10 points apiece in the fourth game with Montana trying
to force a rally set.
Delaney Menell, Regan Butler and Jenny Kniss all came up with
big plays as Ashley Perkes served out the match for the Vandals'
10th win in their last 13 meetings with the Griz.
"All of our players are really stepping in crunch time,"
Idaho head coach Debbie Buchanan said. "It seemed like everyone
made a play when we needed it."
Jenny Kniss was the offensive leader for Idaho, recording 17
kills to accompany 10 digs.
Heather Kniss and Regan Butler also tallied double-doubles -
13 kills and 12 digs for Kniss and 10 and 13 for Butler. Setter
Jenny Neville recorded a different sort of double-dip, registering
12 digs and 50 assists, her third 50-assist match this season.
One of the biggest stories of the night was at the net, where
UI had a decided blocking edge at 13.0-5.0. Freshman Anna-Marie
Hammond had a season-high eight blocks and Jenny Kniss followed
closely with seven. It helped offset a subpar hitting night for
Idaho, which hit a meager .165 but limited Montana to only .131
hitting.
The Grizzlies were paced by Erin Adam's 17-kill effort, but Adams
only managed a .178 efficiency.
"We wanted to focus more on our blocking," Buchanan
said. "We used different scheme and we simplified certain
things, which helped us a lot."
The Vandals now get a respite after playing five matches since
Friday. They enjoy a weekend off before hosting their first home
match Sept. 19 against Washington State.
After playing eight straight to start the season on away or neutral
courts, Idaho plays four of its next five at home, including
matches with Pac 10 programs WSU and Washington. UI plays the
Cougars, Huskies and Gonzaga before opening Big West Conference
play in two weeks.
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