MOSCOW - The University of Idaho volleyball team notched their fourth win in league play Saturday as they defeated San Jose State University, 3-1 in Memorial Gym. Game scores were 22-30, 35-33, 30-27, 30-17.
The win raises Idaho's record to 5-11 overall and 4-1 in the Western Athletic Conference. The loss takes San Jose State to 10-8 overall and 1-4 in the WAC.
"After the loss in game one, we were trying to adjust and do some different things, we weren't getting the ball outside enough," head coach Debbie Buchanan said. "We made some good adjustments after that game and it paid off for us."
The Vandals were looking to keep the ball away from Jennifer Senftleben who made some key blocks early in the match.
"We were trying to move our attack away from [Senftleben] she was just doing such a great job blocking."
Haley Larsen was a game changer for Idaho as she recorded 23 kills on 51 attempts. Larsen also recorded five block assists.
Saxony Brown also had a great match for the Vandals as she recorded 11 kills, 19 assists, two aces, five digs and six block assists.
"Once we adjusted our blocking we were able to start shutting them down and taking away their attack," Brown said. "The win in game two was huge for us and gave us momentum and confidence the rest of the way."
Game two was an extra-points extravaganza as Idaho won 35-33. The biggest lead in the game was four points which San Jose held at 17-21 and 18-22. Idaho would go on to tie the game at 28, before the two squads traded points with the final blow being three Vandals, Erin Curtis, Larsen and Sarah Loney, blocking Niki Clement's attack attempt and giving Idaho the two-point margin of victory.
The Vandals hit the road for the rest of October, with their next match in Cheney Wash., on October 11, when they take on the Eastern Washington Eagles the match begins at 7 p.m.