The University of Idaho Volleyball team competed in New Orleans, LA, at the New Orleans Invitational Sept. 17-19, and delivered their strongest tournament weekend since the beginning of the season.
Idaho entered the weekend with a 6-3 record, going 2-1 in the previous three tournaments despite their fervent and dedicated efforts.
Fortunately, they leave with three consecutive wins against LSU New Orleans, Florida A&M, and Cal State Fullerton, as the Vandals close out the end of their non-conference play on a high before moving into their first Big Sky game this week against Idaho State University.
LSUNO
The Vandals’ opening game against LSU New Orleans started strong with LSU in the first set as the Privateers began to lead, setting the initial pace for the game.
The Vandals, however, showed grit and determination as they kept scores even and by the middle of the set led 17-14, before losing the first set to the Privateers after a shift in momentum and four point run from 14 to 18, ending 25-21.
Despite the loss, the Vandals fought back, taking an early lead in the second 15-9 before a five point run by the Privateers set the score nearly even, before they tied it up 16-16 by the middle of the set. In the close game, the score went back and forth, eventually settling at 24-24 before the Vandals took charge and closed the set 26-24, with a hard fought win in the second.
The third set carried the momentum from the second for the Vandals, taking an early lead and keeping it up to 18-13, before until the 25-21 end in favor of Idaho off a great kill by senior Makaula Koen.
Set four saw the Pioneers take charge and lead until the middle of the set, where a five point run by the Vandals put them ahead 21-18, and in another close set going 24-24, the Vandals took it home off a kill by Junior Sophie Danielson.
The game had great performances from Sophomore Kiana Greer, finishing with 16 kills and three blocks, followed closely by Sophie Danielson scoring 15 kills and two blocks throughout the four sets.
Florida A&M
After a thrilling first day and a hard fought win, Idaho went into the second day against Florida A&M battling it out in a back and forth five set match. The first set was exceedingly strong as the Vandals easily led the entire set, finishing on an 11 point win 25-14, and an incredible start to day two.
In set two, the energy continued as Idaho started the set 4-0 and maintained the lead until the Rattlers came alive and started on a seven point run setting the score at 13-8. With Florida now back in the game, the Vandals fell a few points behind for the remainder of the second set before a 25-23 loss, going 1-1 into set three.
Coming back in the third they started strong early and led through the middle of the set 18-14, and ended it on a seven point run pioneered by Idaho’s Kiana Greer, scoring four service Aces.
Unfortunately, the Vandals entered a slump going into the fourth set, falling behind early on, and being unable to catch up through the remainder of the set, as the Rattlers gained momentum and finished with a seven point run and a 25-16 score, marking one of the worst sets for the Vandals this season.
Still, Idaho didn’t let that stop them from fighting; moving 2-2 into the fifth, they took back the game with three four-point leads and a final score of 15-9, marking their second win of the weekend and their eighth overall win this season.
In another great game from Kiana Greer, she posted 17 kills and five aces, with senior Sophie Danielson behind her at 12 kills, both assisted by the Vandals’ freshman setter Zola Zuccolo on 25 assists throughout the game.
Cal State Fullerton
The final game on Saturday saw another great performance as the Vandals took home the final game in a four set match versus Cal State Fullerton. They led the first set strong until the Titans tied it up in the middle 17-17 and flipped the lead.
Still, the Vandals kept up and after a 3 point run regained the lead at the end, taking the set narrowly at 25-23. The second was back and forth, with multiple lead changes and close scores throughout. The great performance by the Vandals, however, didn’t stop the fire behind the Titans as they took the lead after an 18-18 tie and ended the set at 25-21, going 1-1 into the third set.
Cal State completely dropped the third set, as Idaho started out on a strong 5-0 lead, maintaining it throughout the entire set, reaching 19-11, before hitting a four point run with two kills by Sophie Danielson, and ending the set 25-16 off a kill by Kiana Greer.
Now riding a high, Idaho went into the fourth set ahead of Cal State and hit multiple runs throughout the set taking home the last game of the tournament with a 25-12 final set score.
The Vandals’ great game against Cal State saw Sophie Danielson hit 18 kills and four blocks throughout the four sets, tying her career high in the final non-conference game of the season. Further, setter Zola Zuccolo bolstered 40 assists throughout the game, hitting a career best before moving into conference play.
The Vandals next match will be Idaho State at home on Thursday, September 24, at 6 p.m.