The Idaho volleyball team’s postseason hopes hit another roadblock Thursday.
The Vandals fell to Northern Colorado 3-1 (25-23, 14-25, 23-25, 16-25) in Greeley, Colorado.
The loss ends Idaho’s 13-year streak of finishing 0.50 or higher in conference play, according to news release from the Big Sky Conference.
The Vandals (9-16, 4-9) committed 36 errors.
Sophomore outside hitter Kaela Straw led Idaho with 12 kills.
The Bears lead set one until a service error began a 4-0 run by the Vandals.
Sophomore outside hitter Haylee Mathis earned the set-winning kill.
Northern Colorado (16-9, 10-3) bounced back in set two to lead 6-10.
Idaho head coach Debbie Buchanan called a timeout after the team committed three straight attack errors.
The Vandals responded with a kill by junior middle blocker Torrin Crawford.
The Bears’ lead fell to 18-14 after committing two errors.
Northern Colorado took the set 25-14 with the last seven points.
In Northern Colorado’s 7-0 run, the Vandals committed three attack errors and Bears scored four kills.
After the break, Idaho started the third set ahead 3-0.
Errors haunted the Vandals as the Bears pulled ahead 16-13.
Straw responded with two kills and put Idaho in front 22-20.
Northern Colorado took set three 25-23.
A 5-1 run in set four put Northern Colorado in front 11-6. The Bears took set four after an Idaho attack error.
Idaho play its final road game of the season against North Dakota 5 p.m. Saturday in Grand Forks.
Luis Torres can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @TheLTFiles