FULLERTON, Calif. - The University of Idaho volleyball team picked up its fifth straight win Saturday night with a close five game victory over Cal State Fullerton at Titan Gym. Game scores were 30-22, 30-23, 24-30, 28-30, and 15-12.
"We are pretty lucky to come out with a win," head coach Debbie Buchanan said. "As a team we were a little bit out of sorts and it wasn't just one thing, it was quite a few things."
Idaho's offense was clicking in the first two games as it hit a combined .345 percent. In game one Idaho hit .341 percent and cruised to the easy 30-22 win. The offensive momentum carried into game two as Idaho recorded 20 kills on .349 percent for the 30-23 win.
"I think we really controlled the match during the first two games," Buchanan said
The Vandals came out flat in game three as they recorded only 13 kills and 11 errors for a .036 attack percentage and the Titans took the game, 30-24. Game four wasn't much better for the Vandal offense as they recorded 14 kills for a .159 percent and the Titans tied the match at two games apiece.
"I don't really know what happened in games three and four; we just didn't show up," Buchanan said. "We played really flat and I don't know if it was a lack of focus or if we weren't respecting our opponent. Fullerton is a good team and we can't expect to let up and still win."
Idaho took care of Fullerton in game five as they recorded a .294 hitting percentage. The Titans recorded four kills and four error in the final game as Idaho walked away with the game and match, 15-12.
"At times I thought that we served fairly tough but we could have done a lot of things better," Buchanan said. "We could have blocked better. Playing on the road is tough and that has always been a challenge for us."
Kati Tikker led the Vandals with a career high 28 kills on .333 hitting percentage. Tikker also added five digs and four blocks for Idaho. Sarah Meek added 22 kills on .410 hitting percentage and three blocks. Brooke Haeberle was the other Vandal with double-figure kills as she knocked in 14 to go along with 16 digs. Mandy Becker and Meghan Brown also chipped in 16 digs apiece.
"Kati had a high percentage and did a great job," Buchanan said. "She went in and did everything she needed to. Sarah Meek also had a high hitting percentage and played well."
As a team the Vandals hit .217 percent compared to a .185 percent by the Titans. Fullerton out-blocked Idaho 11 to eight and the Vandals recorded 80 digs to the Titans 78.
"It took a lot of courage for our kids to pull it out at the end. I'm proud of them," Buchanan said.
Fullerton (10-8, 3-6 BWC) was led by Lauren Goins with 21 kills and 16 digs. Tiffany Doven added 10 kills and nine blocks for the Titans.
Idaho (13-5, 6-3 BWC) travels to Utah State on Oct. 21st.
