The Vandals finished off their season with two final home games earlier this month. They faced Northern Arizona University on Nov. 17 and the University of Northern Colorado on Nov. 19.
While both games ended with the University of Idaho unable to defend home court, they were very different games.
Northern Arizona
Before the opening set against NAU, a moment of silence was observed for the four students whose lives were lost the previous week. While the mood was somber during the opening of the game, the crowd and teams were ready to bring a little light to Moscow.
The Vandals were able to take the game to five sets, losing 3-2. Freshmen outside hitter Olivia Gloeckner’s 23 kills led the Vandals in the losing effort.
Each set between the Lumberjacks and the Vandals were nailbiters as each team was able to stay within arm’s reach of one another. Three sets ended in 25-23 with sets one and three going to the Vandals while set two went to NAU. There is no doubt Gloeckner led the way for the team offensively, fellow freshmen outside hitter Taryn Vrieling also had a great game. She ended the night with 16 kills of her own. If NAU was about to go on a run you could count on Vrieling to be there with a kill, silently waiting as the opposing team paid more attention to Gloeckner or graduate outside hitter Alison Munday, who also ended the night with 16 kills.
Another standout for the Vandals was freshmen middle hitter Madison Wilson with 10 kills. Wilson played aggressive throughout the five sets, jumping into the air with vigor and slamming the ball into NAU’s court whenever she got the chance.
On NAU’s part, they had five different players end with double digit kills. Junior middle blocker Jordan Elder lead NAU with 15 kills. Both freshman outside hitters Kylie Moran and Kacee Moore had 10 kills each. Senior middle blocker Neche Newton had 11 kills while junior middle blocker Savannah Hasson had 12 kills.
The crowd was engaged throughout the five sets, roaring to life whenever the Vandals tied the game or regained the lead. However, NAU defensive specialist Millie O’Ketter was there to give the Lumberjacks the energy they needed on the court to survive the offensive pressure of the Vandals. She provided spirit and enthusiasm to keep the Lumberjacks in the game, ending the night with 20 digs.
Northern Colorado
While the NAU game was close throughout all five sets the game against UNC was anything but as the Vandals were swept on senior night.
Before Saturday’s game, the Vandals honored the two seniors on their team, Munday and senior setter Hailey Pelton. Both had families in the crowd who brought various items to honor them: Balloons sporting the player’s number and framed jerseys commemorating their time on the team.
It was a tough night as only one Vandal ended the night with double digit kills. Vrieling continued her streak from the NAU game and was able to end the night with 11 kills on 36 total attacks. The rest of the Vandals didn’t fare too well as Munday ended with only 9 kills on 24 attempts. Pelton had 11 assists while her freshmen counterpart Kate Doorn had 15 assists.
UNC’s graduate student Kailey Jo Ince had the most kills for the Bears with 12. Junior setter Syd Cole made up the majority of the Bears assists with 30 of the teams total 37. Throughout each of the three sets, the Vandals were never able to break 20 points.
Although the Vandals’ season has come to an end, there is hope for the future. It was the first season for both head coach Chris Gonzalez, and most of the team.
Ricky Simmons can be reached at [email protected]