Tough match in Flagstaff – Idaho loses to Northern Arizona 3-1 on the road

 

Error management and maintaining a solid attack percentage was a struggle in the Idaho volleyball team”s first road game in Big Sky Conference play.

Northern Arizona defeated Idaho 3-1 (17-25, 22-25, 26-24, 19-25) Thursday in Flagstaff, Arizona.

After earning a career-high 20 kills in a 3-2 loss against North Dakota Saturday, senior outside hitter Tineke Bierma followed it up with 15 kills.

Both senior setter Meredith Coba (20) and Natalie Jensen (23) earned 20 or more assists against the Lumberjacks. Senior defensive specialist Jenna Ellis led the team in digs with 22.

Idaho was unable to keep up with the Lumberjacks in the opening set. The Vandals fell short in the second set after leading for most of the game.

Idaho kept the game alive by winning the third set, which concluded with a kill by redshirt freshman outside hitter Kaela Straw.

Northern Arizona won the final set to clinch the victory over the Vandals.

Janae Vander Ploeg earned 23 kills but also had 13 attack errors, the most of each in Thursday”s game.

Idaho struggled on the attack as it ended with a .161 to Northern Arizona”s .201. Idaho committed 36 errors to the Lumberjacks” 34.

With the Vandals now 1-2 in conference and 4-11 overall, they”ll look to turn their season around. Idaho plays Eastern Washington at 6 p.m. Saturday at Reese Court in Cheney, Washington.

Luis Torres can be reached at  [email protected]  

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