If the Idaho volleyball program has its way, it will be the third different team to win the Western Athletic Conference tournament in as many years.
No. 2 seeded Idaho accomplished the first step of that defeating No. 7 seeded Texas State 3-1 Monday afternoon in San Antonio. The win sends Idaho to the semi-final to face No. 3 Texas-San Antonio Tuesday at 2 p.m.
The path for Idaho to win its first WAC championship is as clear as it’s ever been, considering it has beaten every team in the conference at least once during league play this year en-route to finishing second.
It’s also more clear because of the absence of Hawaii. The lady Warriors have won every WAC tournament dating back to 1998, with the exception of Utah State pulling an upset from the No. 3 seed slot in 2010. Hawaii is no longer a member of the WAC, its nationally ranked program is mixing it up in the Big West these days.
Winning the conference tournament would mean an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.
“We definitely think that this is probably one of the best chances that we’ve had to make it to the (NCAA) tournament,” junior outside hitter Allison (Walker) Baker said. “(It’s) so close and it’s right there and it’s so beautiful for us.”
The three other remaining teams in the tournament have split with Idaho on the season, though only UTSA has beaten Idaho on its home floor.
“I think it says we can win it all,” senior libero Janelle Chow said. “We have the capability if we play our game, if we work together, we can beat anybody who comes our way in the WAC.”
Idaho’s win over Texas State in the conference tournament quarterfinal was its fifth win in a row, and its third victory over Texas State this season. Though the victory didn’t come without its uncomfortable moments for the Vandals.
The first set was dominated by Idaho, cruising to a 25-14 win. A different Bobcat team came out in the second set, playing with tenacity, digging well and faring better at the net to beat Idaho 25-21. Taking that set gave Texas State momentum heading in to set three, with the Bobcats taking a 9-3 lead early before the Vandals responded with a 22-9 run to take the third set 25-18, before taking set four 25-21 for the victory.
Idaho did so without starting middle blocker Alyssa Schultz. In her stead Taylor Wilkinson came off the bench and tallied 10 kills.
“I was a little nervous,” Wilkinson said. “That’s definitely a huge loss to our team, but we have good coaches and good teammates and they’ve prepared me well. I knew that my team would back me up and have confidence in me so I just went out there and played my best.”
The path to Wednesday’s WAC Championship game goes through the host roadrunners, who defeated Idaho in four sets the last time the two met.
“I think for us, we’re rolling right now and we’re playing well,” Idaho coach Debbie Buchanan said. “It’s going to be a battle, they’re going to have to do a lot to try and beat us, and we’re going to have to play a great game and really execute every single part of the game.”
Having home court may be of a benefit to the roadrunners, but the vandals are 7-3 away from Moscow against conference opponents, including wins over Utah State and New Mexico State which will be playing in the other semi-final.
“We’ve been really good on the road,” Buchanan said. “For us, you have to get to that point if you’re going to work your way to the NCAA tournament, you have to be good on the road because you’re probably not going to be at home.”