After a couple of tough losses in Portland, the Vandals aim to bounce back at the UNLV Volleyball Tournament in Las Vegas.
Idaho plays three matches this weekend against UNLV, University of the Pacific and Texas Tech, in hopes to turn around its 2-4 record after the first two tournaments of the preseason.
The Vandals dropped two games this previous weekend in Portland, with junior outside hitter Avery Housley not playing with a torn abdomen.
Housley led the offense with sophomore middle blocker Kennedy Warren during the Idaho Classic Volleyball Tournament. Warren led the offense in kills throughout the Portland tournament and is stepping into big shoes that Housley has left due to injury.
Both Vandal wins were highlighted by the Idaho middle blockers — sophomore Nikki Ball and freshman Kyra Palmbush.
Ball has held the highest attack percentage on the team with a .813 against Cal Baptist and has consistent high
Redshirt sophomore middle blocker Nikki Ball serves to California Baptist University Friday in Memorial Gym. | Leslie Kiebert Argonaut
scoring games averaging around 10 points.
Ball and Palmbush will need to hold down the net and offset the offense of the opposing matchups.
The Vandals will first take on the UNLV Runnin’ Rebels (3-3). UNLV is not in the Big Sky Conference but has had experience with Big Sky foes, including Weber State and Portland State.
The Rebels beat Portland 3-2 while the Vandals lost to Portland 0-3. UNLV also played Weber State, resulting in a 3-1 loss for the Rebels.
The UNLV game should be a very good gauge of how Idaho compares to schools in bigger conferences. If the Vandals can put up a fight with the young squad, the only way to move is upward for Idaho volleyball.
Idaho will then face the University of the Pacific Tigers (3-3). Pacific also have some familiarity with playing Big Sky teams, playing the University of Montana, winning 3-0.
The Tigers could pull some surprises with Pacific being the biggest wild card as to how far this team can push the Vandals this weekend.
Finally, Idaho will take on the Texas Tech Red Raiders (4-3), providing a great opportunity for the Vandals to play against a mighty Big 12 conference opponent.
The young Vandal team is continuing to find a groove throughout the preseason eyeing to take another level of improvement under the bright lights of Las Vegas.
Idaho’s defense and offense need to work very hard to compete with some high-level teams this weekend.
The Vandals will begin play 10 a.m Friday against UNLV in Las Vegas.
Connor Swersey can be reached at [email protected]