After half a season of cold weather, indoor match-ups and high altitude competition, the Vandals are excited for this weekend’s road trip south.
Idaho faces UTEP Friday, New Mexico Saturday and WAC rival New Mexico State Sunday. Idaho enters the match carrying a three-match win streak but coach Daniel Pollock said now is when competition gets tough.
“None of these teams are easy matches,” Pollock said. “Basically from here on out the rest of the season it just keeps getting harder and harder.”
All of the matches this weekend are outside and the temperature is predicted to be in the high 60s — two factors Pollock said will only help the team.
“It’s outside so I am sure the girls are going to have a lot more energy just from finally being outdoors and it will be a nice change from Idaho weather,” Pollock said.
Senior and team captain Molly Knox said most of the team prefers playing outside.
“From that standpoint, even if it’s really sunny, hot or windy we’re going to be fine,” Knox said.
Pollock said the 1 p.m. Friday match-up against the Miners of UTEP is one he would like to see Idaho win.
“They have had a lot of close matches against good teams but I think it’s a team that could be a great win to start the trip,” Pollock said.
Idaho will make the hour-long drive to Las Cruces Saturday morning and face New Mexico at 12 p.m.
“UNM is usually really strong in the region and they are a really powerful team with a lot of good players at the top,” Pollock said.
Idaho will attempt to cash in a win against New Mexico, but the most important match of the weekend is against WAC competitor New Mexico State at 10 a.m. the next day. Knox said she is glad Idaho’s first WAC contest is mid-season.
“We’re all getting into the best groove for our games right now and we’re not too tired out because it’s not of the end of the season,” Knox said.
Freshman Sophie Vickers also thinks the timing is great for this challenge.
“After last week’s big win against BYU I think we are in some good form and a WAC match for us this weekend will be good for us to test ourselves against another WAC team and see how things are going,” Vickers said.
She said if Idaho plays like it has been it can give any team a good run. She said winning the first WAC contest of the year would be a great way to start the outdoor season.
Idaho lost to New Mexico State last year 4-3 in the regular season and 2-4 in the WAC tournament, and Knox said it is an aggressive, in-your-face team that Idaho hopes to find revenge against.
“We’re usually really close with NMSU and we’re looking good this year so I think we will be able to take them,” Knox said.
Pollock said New Mexico State is the toughest match of the weekend because it is strong from top to bottom. He said Idaho’s first WAC challenge is against one of the toughest teams in the conference.
“Win, lose, or draw, we have a good chance to get a decent seat in the WAC this year but obviously it would be fantastic to beat them,” Pollock said.