The Vandals fell to Northern Colorado in three straight sets tonight in Memorial Gym.
Idaho moves to 1-25 on the season and 0-14 in the Big Sky. The Bears improved to 14-10 for the season and 9-4 in conference.
The Bears swept the Vandals 25-21, 25-22 and 25-15. The Bears struggled with serving early in the first two sets, with seven service errors in the second set alone. Those easy points kept the Vandals in the game for the first two sets. However, moving into the third, Idaho could not find momentum.
The Vandals’ first and only win was back on Aug. 27 against University of California Riverside. Over two months later and the Vandals haven’t added to the win column, and Head Coach Chris Gonzalez says the team isn’t ready to do so.
“We aren’t ready to win yet,” Gonzalez said. “We are not ready to block that kid yet. We are not ready to make the big swing at 24-24 yet.”
The Bears brought strong middle hitters to the game that dominated the court. Gonzalez moved Graduate Student middle blocker Renata Lopez Morales to the outside in order to get hands up against the slide attack. Lopez Morales showed her all around versatility on the court, finding kills from the outside and right side, while also passing in serve receive.
Morales has played more Big Sky Conference games than the rest of the Idaho team combined, Gonzalez said. Her versatility and seniority has been a huge influence on the team, according to Gonzalez.
However, that influence still couldn’t push the Vandals to their second win of the season. The Bears out hit the vandals .297 to .091. They out served them six aces to four, out blocked them 10 to six and had double the amount of assists with 41 versus the Vandals’ 20.
The Vandals starting setter, freshman Lacy Cox, went out with an injury during the third set. One thing has been a consistent stumbling block for the Vandals despite the opponent, injuries.
“We’ve had four matches where we have used the same line up, so four in 26,” Gonzalez said. “The continuity with injuries has been difficult.”
Even though Idaho has been swept most of the season, Gonzalez said his players are still putting their best foot forward. He said they are just trying to get one point better, trying to improve every match they play in.
Gonzalez said it could be easy to throw in the towel for this long, grueling and disappointing season, but the players are showing up every day to practice giving their all.
The Vandals will fight for their second win of the season and first conference win tomorrow at noon against Northern Arizona in Memorial Gym.
Joanna Hayes can be reached at [email protected]