MOSCOW, Idaho - The University of Idaho volleyball team defeated Boise State Saturday night at Memorial Gym in front of 1,028 fans. Game scores were 30-24, 30-15, 23-30 and 34-32. The win improves Idaho's record to 14-13 overall, 6-8 in the WAC while Boise State falls to 6-16, 2-12 in conference.
"For us to be able to stay in the match at the end and keep battling back and forth says a lot about our team," Idaho head coach Debbie Buchanan said. "We're getting better and we are making a lot of progress."
The Vandals fell behind early in game one at 17-12 before they were able to climb back in and tie it at 21. Eight consecutive points put the Vandals ahead at 27-21 and a block from Erin Curtis and Saxony Brown gave Idaho the 30-24 win. The Vandals recorded 18 kills and five errors for a .302 hitting percentage in game one.
Idaho came out on fire in game two as it quickly established a 10-6 lead. The Vandals never let up in the game as they recorded 15 kills and only one error for a blazing .609 hitting percentage. Idaho held Boise State to a -.059 hitting percentage in the game to take the lopsided 30-15 win.
Game three was tied at 14 before Boise State rattled off three straight points for a 17-14 lead. The Vandals were able to come back and tie it at 21 but six consecutive points from the Broncos gave Boise State a 27-21 lead that Idaho couldn't overcome. Boise State recorded seven blocks in game three for the 30-23 win.
"We got careful and came out unfocused," Buchanan said of game three. "We started swinging low and doing things that aren't in our game plan. We're working on snapping out of those situations quicker."
Game four was a back and fourth battle as the two teams recorded 18 ties and nine lead changes. An Idaho attack error gave Boise State game point at 29-27 but the Broncos couldn't convert and a service error and two attack errors allowed the Vandals to take a 30-29 lead. Idaho was able to hold off game point again at 32-31 and two Haley Larsen kills gave the Vandals a 33-32 lead. A bad set by the Broncos ended their hopes of a comeback as Idaho took the game, 34-32, and the match.
"We've been in these situations a lot and for a while we were off balanced. But I think we made a big jump as a team tonight," Buchanan said. "We were aggressive at the end and I'm glad we were able to come back."
Haley Larsen led Idaho with 18 kills on .300 attack percentage. Amanda Bowman added 15 kills while Erin Curtis and Sarah Loney both recorded 11 kills. Kati Tikker added a double-double for the Vandals with 10 kills and 12 digs and Saxony Brown had 54 assists and 17 digs. Meghan Brown led the defense with 21 digs
Overall Idaho out-hit and out-dug Boise State, .233 to .135 and 88 to 74, respectively. The Broncos held a slight edge in blocks (13 to 11) and service aces (6 to 5).
Idaho returns to Memorial Gym to close out the regular season against Fresno State on Thurs., Nov. 17 and San Jose State on Sat., Nov. 19. Both matches begin at 7 p.m.
"Fresno State is a defensive team and we have to get ready to play another tough match," Buchanan said.
Notes:
-Kati Tikker recorded her 56th career double-figure kill match which ties for 10th all-time at UI.
-Tikker's 10 kills in the match gives her 1,139 for her career which ties for 10th on the UI all-time career kill list.
