PULLMAN, Wash.—The Idaho volleyball team stood tall against cross-border rival Washington State on Thursday night. Just not tall enough. The Vandals opened the Cougar Challenge with a four-set loss at Bohler Gym.
Ali Forde and Becca Mau led the Vandals, each with 11 kills. Senior Stephanie Hagins had a perfect night, finishing with a .909 (10 K-0 E-11 TA) attack percentage. Jessica Hastriter and Alyssa Schultz added to the Idaho attack with 10 and nine kills, respectively.
Washington State (8-2) narrowly outhit the Vandals, .282-.231. Kyra Holt led the offensive attack for the Cougars. She closed the night with a match-high 18 kills.
“We need to clean some things up at the end of these matches,” head coach Debbie Buchanan said. “We have to keep it nice and consistent and not try to do too much. Sometimes we need to just play safe volleyball. I felt like at the very end of those matches we just broke down.”
Idaho (4-7) found themselves down, 1-0, after the first set. The Vandals dug in deep in the second set, fending off six WSU set-points. The Cougars eventually outlasted the Vandals, winning the set, 31-29.
The Silver and Gold would bend but not break following the second set. Idaho trailed, 20-14, late in the third set. A pair of WSU errors helped right the Idaho ship. Hastriter brought Idaho to within two points, 20-18, following a Samantha Delmer ace. A rare libero kill by Jenna Ellis tied the match at 21. Meredith Coba closed the set for the Vandals, 26-24, avoiding the sweep.
“Our team has proven that they have it in them,” Buchanan added. “I feel like they fight and stay confident. For our team right now, it is about being able to execute all the way through. We did that at times [tonight]. Then there were times we got away from it.”
Mau held things together for the Vandals in the fourth set. The freshman totaled six of the team's 13 kills. The two teams were tied at 20 and then again at 22 late in the set. Three consecutive Vandal errors gave WSU the 24-22 lead. Jaicee Harris recorded the match-point kill, giving the Cougars the set and a 3-1 win.
Ellis and Terra Varney led the Vandals defensively, totaling 13 digs apiece. Schultz recorded five block assists, totaling 400 for her career. She passed former Vandal Jessica Moore for fifth on the all-time list.
Idaho will play its second and last match of the Cougar Challenge Friday afternoon (1 p.m. PT) against No. 23 Loyola Marymount. LMU dispatched of Portland State in three sets earlier Thursday evening.
“I think they are a calm, athletic team,” Buchanan commented. “Obviously they are a great volleyball team. It will be another test for us. We need to stay consistent and play all the way through.”
Friday brings a close to the non-conference schedule for Idaho. They will open Big Sky play Sept. 26 at Northern Colorado.
