Idaho vs Montana State
The Idaho volleyball team (6-6, BSC 1-0) swept Montana State Thursday evening in three sets. The opening home victory gives the team its first conference win of the season.
Idaho head coach Debbie Buchanan said there is no single player who stands out. Instead, each individual on the team is contributing in their own way right now.
“I think that is why our team is fun to watch,” Buchanan said in a news release. “We have multiple girls — and girls on the bench that want to get in, waiting for their time.”
The Vandals battled to take the first set 25-19, resulting in a 1-0 match lead. From there, Idaho’s success only continued.
By score, the Vandals were more impressive in each consecutive set. The team hit the ground running and only improved as the game progressed.
Strong defense complimented by a timely offense placed Idaho in control for the entire matchup.
The Bobcats could not find any way to spark momentum because of Idaho’s dependable defense.
“Our goal was to see how good we could get defensively,” Buchanan said. “We have to make that an emphasis.”
While defense limited, the offense capitalized.
Junior outside hitter Kaela Straw tallied kills left and right. Her effort played a pivotal role for the Vandals both early and late. She led the team with 12 kills on the night.
Junior outside hitter and middle blocker Reece Carman was not far behind Straw. The Boise State transfer added 10 kills in her home debut.
The second set featured more success from Idaho. The Vandals claimed the set with a score of 25-14, in large part due to their defense.
The will to sellout and keep the ball alive is one superior element of the Vandals’ game. Ultimately, it aided the team’s winning effort in the second set.
Idaho took the final set 25-12, which solidified the win.
Idaho vs Montana
The win against Montana pushed Idaho’s winning record to 7-6.
Idaho head coach Debbie Buchanan said in a news release the team is starting to reach its goals.
“We are reaching the goals that we have set,” Buchanan said. “We are doing a great job of keeping our errors to a minimum and playing level volleyball. Tonight was not as crisp as it was the other night (against Montana State) but we were still able to do some great things.”
Idaho was in control for the majority of the match, leading Montana in aces 5-1 and 43-35 in kills.
In the first set of the game Idaho was not hesitant to start putting points on the board with a kill from senior middle blocker Torrin Crawford.
Montana took the lead late in the following set but Idaho caught back up quickly.
After a few more kills, some errors from Montana and an ace from Montana’s Cassie Laramee, the Vandals won the set 25 to 20.
In the second match Idaho again found itself on the board after an error by Montana. Idaho quickly took the victory in this match 25-15.
In match three, Montana took the first point of the game with a kill from Mykaela Hammer.
Idaho still managed to take the win in this match 25-20.
Idaho junior outside hitter Alycia Wodke said in a news release the two-game win streak feels good for the team.
“Starting 2-0 feels great,” Wodke said. “Being able to win when you are at home is probably the best feeling. Starting out 2-0 — I can’t even explain it.”
This win brought Idaho’s home record to 2-0 and continued their two-game win streak.
The Vandals face North Dakota Sept. 28 in Grand Forks, North Dakota.
Zack Ozuna and Marisa Lloyd can be reached at [email protected]