Starting in 2000, the Idaho volleyball team defeated Montana and Montana State every time the teams met.
Montana ended Idaho’s reign of dominance over the state schools in the fifth set.
Idaho rallied back from a 2-0 deficit, but a closing 9-1 run gave Montana the 3-2 win over Idaho (13-25, 28-30, 25-12, 25-19, 7-15).
Idaho coach Debbie Buchanan said the team lacked competitiveness.
“We did not come out to play,” Buchanan said in a news release. “We did not even look like the same team at the start. Our team has to show some more urgency and fight. We are still not playing consistent. We are trying to figure out how to fight as a team and win matches like today.”
Montana (4-8) cruised through set one with a match-high attack at .60 percent and recorded 15 kills.
In set two, an ace from senior defensive specialist Terra Varney put Idaho in front 26-25.
Montana continued to fight and won 30-28 after an ace from sophomore outside hitter Cassie Laramee.
The Vandals began the next set leading 14-2, as Montana committed 13 errors.
Junior outside hitter Becca Mau blocked a ball for the 25-12 win.
Five kills from sophomore outside hitter Kaela Straw led Idaho to a 25-19 fourth set win. The match was tied 2-2.
A kill by junior middle blocker Torrin Crawford tied the fifth set 6-6 with Idaho’s last offensive point.
Montana middle blocker Alexis Urbach started Montana’s 9-1 run with three straight kills. Urbach’s 19th and final kill of the afternoon won Montana the match 15-7.
Mau earned 17 kills overall. Freshman setter Megan Ramseyer led Idaho with 43 blocks.
Buchanan said the team committed too many errors.
“The bottom line is we need to find that urgency,” she said. “We need to start stepping up and competing from the beginning. Unfortunately, that can be a trait of a young team. We have to try and work that out of them in some way.”
Idaho faces North Dakota 7 p.m. Thursday at the Memorial Gym.
Luis Torres can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @TheLTFiles