University of Idaho and Idaho State University volleyball both walked away with a win after the ‘Battle of the Domes’ in Pocatello on Saturday and Sunday.
The Bengals took the first match on Saturday, 3-2, with two sets going past 25 at set point. The Vandals won Sunday’s match, 3-2, with one set going past 25.
UI Vandals (3-2, 2-1 BSC)
Saturday’s match started off looking good for the Vandals after they won the first set, 25-21, but the Bengals took the lead 2-1. By the end of the fourth set, the score was tied and the Bengals won in the fifth, 15-9.
Idaho didn’t let them win easily though. The third and fourth sets were both pushed past a score of 25 points needed to win. ISU took the third set, 27-25, and Idaho took the fourth, 26-24.
Redshirt junior middle blocker Nikki Ball led the Vandals with a total of 17 kills, one less than her career-high. She also had a team-high of five block assists and one individual block. Senior outside hitter Avery Housley and junior middle blocker Kennedy Warren were right behind Ball with 13 and 11 kills.
Junior defensive specialist Becca Owen had a total of 20 digs, sophomore libero Alaina Lacey had 14 digs and senior setter Donnee Janzen had 13. Janzen had a total of 37 assists.
Sunday’s match was very similar to Saturday’s, with the Vandals starting strong and the Bengals fighting back from the get go. Each set had a different winner, tight scores showing the players’ competitive edge, until the Vandals pulled ahead for the win in the fifth set, 16-14.
Warren scored for Idaho with 21 kills and redshirt freshman Travel Morris, middle blocker, led the Vandals defense at the net with seven blocks. Redshirt freshman setter Peyten Ely reached a career-high as a starter with 46 total assists.
Idaho’s stats were hurt by its serves. There were two service aces, both on Saturday, over the course of two matches.
ISU Bengals (2-3, 2-3 BSC)
The Bengals put up a great couple of matches against the Vandals, pushing back every time the opposing team threw a good play their way. The Bengals took the win in five sets on Saturday, but Sunday the Vandals brought in a different lineup and pulled away with the win in the fifth set.
Junior outside hitter Raegan Kunz was the top scorer for the Bengals on Saturday with 23 total kills, followed by redshirt freshman outside hitter Tracy Kennedee with 12 kills and redshirt senior middle blocker Taylor Meeks with 10 kills. Kunz also led the Bengals’ defense at the net with five blocks.
Junior libero Mihala Bradburn totaled 18 digs in Saturday’s match. Kennedee and redshirt sophomore setter Andri Dewey tied in behind Bradburn with 16 total digs each. Dewey totaled 53 assists.
On Sunday, Idaho State’s lead hitter was Kennedee with 21 total kills, followed by junior outside hitter Sadie Gardner with 14 kills and Kunz with 12 kills. Redshirt junior middle blocker Kaia Jones totaled 7 blocks and Kunz was second with four blocks. Dewey totaled 54 assists.
Where Idaho State really excelled was with its serves. The team scored 13 aces on Saturday and eight on Sunday. Service aces are how the Bengals hit the Vandals where it hurt, but they recovered and made up for it.
Anteia McCollum can be reached at [email protected]