The University of Idaho Argonaut

University of Idaho outside hitter Kelsey Taylor, left, and middle back Debbie Pederson, right, jump up to block New Mexico outside hitter Stephanie Ziegler during the volleyball game Thursday. The Vandals head to Las Cruces to play New Mexico State Saturday. Kate Kucharzyk/Argonaut

“It’s a big week,” coach Debbie Buchanan said. “We need to execute on the road because they’ll (New Mexico State) play better at home, just like we do.”

The team is looking for another win against the New Mexico State Aggies, but is prepared for them to fight back.

Idaho beat the Aggies 3-1 in Memorial Gym but can expect a different atmosphere playing on the Aggies home court Saturday.

“It’s going to be a fight,” senior Debbie Pederson said.

New Mexico State is in second above Idaho in the WAC rankings with a 9-3 record over the Vandals’ 8-3 record as of Wednesday.

“We’re going to have to bring it even more, push even more,” senior Anna McKinney said.

New Mexico States’ offense is dominated by Kayleigh Giddens, Whitney Woods, Krista Altermatt and Kelsey Brennan. 

In their last match, the Idaho block frustrated and forced errors for all their hitters.

Idaho holds the advantage in blocks, digs and service aces but not in kills or hitting percentages. Idaho’s defense has been solid all season and continues to improve but their offense is something that has started evolving more recently, Buchanan said.

Passing improvements have allowed the team to run a more balanced offense, something McKinney said they are always driving to have.

McKinney, Pederson and junior Kelsey Taylor have the highest hitting percentages on the team, all above .200. The more the team can get these hitters involved the more effective they can be as a whole, Buchanan said.

Pederson said the team is getting more consistent. Consistency and a more balance offense is what the team and coach say they have been striving for all season. McKinney said their communication has really developed in recent games.

“Our communication has gotten better and it’s helped us with our urgency to finish games,” McKinney said.

The close match up with New Mexico State takes place Saturday before the team meets San Jose State, Hawaii and Boise in Memorial Gym to finish out the regular season.