The University of Idaho volleyball team took home its first conference win on Oct. 6 in its game against Eastern Washington University, beating the Eagles on their home court in Cheney, Washington. After hitting a streak of four straight losses, the Vandals won the match in four sets, coming out strong and creating a game full of achievements for multiple different players.
The University of Idaho had been on a losing streak for the last four games, not able to gain its footing on the court in each game and losing three of them in straight 3-0 sets. Despite the recent losses, the Vandals came out hard against Eastern Washington, refusing to let up and setting a high-intensity pace.
Prior to facing the Vandals, Eastern Washington had a record of 8-8 overall, going 2-2 in conference after beating the University of Montana and Weber State, while losing to Montana State and Idaho State in the weeks prior.
The Eagles sported their best offensive player, senior Kalista Lukovich, who consistently led the team at the net, while defensive specialist senior Elle Bruegman anchored the back row.
The first set opened back and forth until the Vandals hit a five-point run off straight kills, three by Alaina Armstrong and one each from Koen Makaula and Kiana Greer, as the Vandals picked up a lead. However, the Eagles responded with three kills from their outside hitter, Kalista Lukovich, and a five-point run to tie the score at 10-10.
From there, the Vandals and Eagles battled it out on the court, taking the score back and forth until the Vandals were ahead 20-15.
With three kills by Kalista Lukovich, the Eagles hit five points straight and tied the score 20-20, where each team began to push points. At 25-25, the teams exchanged back-and-forth kills before the Vandals pushed ahead, as Sophie Danielson scored. Idaho then capitalized on an attack error by Kalista Lukovich and closed the set out with a kill by Alaina Armstrong for a 29-27 set.
The Vandals rode a high into set two with multiple kills by Kiana Greer and Alaina Armstrong to take an early 10-1 lead. The momentum carried them through the rest of the set, steadfastly holding the lead and not letting up on the Eagles.
Idaho’s freshman setter, Csenge Krakoczski, scored three aces for the Vandals, pushing them into another five-point run. By the end of the set, the Vandals outpaced the Eagles, ending with a score of 25-16 in favor of Idaho.
In set three, Eastern Washington made a comeback, fighting harder to stay tied with the Vandals and pulling away with a 13-7 lead early in the set. The Eagles held the lead throughout the rest of the set despite Idaho putting down 14 kills.
The Vandals’ own errors contributed to their loss in the set, with a game-high 10 errors in the third, while the Eagles had just four. Still, the Vandals fought hard until the end, where the set closed 25-20 for Eastern Washington.
Both teams came out hard in the final set, with scores staying even until the Vandals pulled ahead 15-8. The Vandals held the lead for the rest of the set while the offense played strong throughout the finale, tallying 16 kills with many notably strong plays by Alaina Armstrong and Kiana Greer.
Despite the Vandals holding a nine-point lead at 20-11, the Eagles resiliently made a comeback toward the end of the set, making it to 23-20. However, it wasn’t enough, and Sarah Sullivan made a kill for a final score of 25-22, marking the Vandals’ first conference win.
The Vandals came out of the game with a few notable achievements as Kiana Greer hit 21 kills, a season best and a tie with her career best against Tennessee State University last season. Alaina Armstrong had a strong performance, hitting 18 kills and setting a new career best, three kills above her 2025 high of 15.
Setter Csenge Krakoczski raised her career best in assists from last year’s 38 against Idaho State by eight to 46 assists while also setting a new career best in service aces with four, leading the game in service aces for both teams. Idaho’s libero, Kiera Kleidon, hit her second-best total in digs this season at 21, just behind her 27 against Cal State Fullerton earlier this year.
Each player on the court came out ready in the game against Eastern Washington to set new bests and close out the Vandals’ first conference win for the 2026 season.
The Vandals play their next game against Northern Colorado University in Greeley on Saturday, Oct. 10. The Bears are currently 3-1 in conference and 7-8 overall prior to the game against the Vandals.