MOSCOW, Idaho—It was less trick and more treat for the Vandal volleyball team on Saturday night. Idaho defeated Montana, 3-1, and clinched a berth in the Big Sky Conference Tournament in front of the home crowd at Memorial Gym.
Idaho (11-13, 8-4) used strong numbers from Katelyn Peterson and Sarah Sharp to win the final two sets of the night. The duo combined for 14 kills in the third and fourth sets. Peterson finished with a team-high 14 kills, while Sharp added 13.
“We had that sense of urgency tonight,” Peterson said following the win. “We knew we had to want it more than them. They are fighting for that tournament bid too. We tried to fight for every point and take it one at a time.”
The Vandals got hot right from the start, opening the match with a Terra Varney ace. A strong kill from DeVonne Ryter helped the Vandals to a 5-0 spurt, extending the lead to 15-6. The Grizzlies fought back with a 6-0 run of its own, cutting the Vandal lead to 15-13. The Vandals were the first to 20 with a kill from Sharp to put Idaho up four. Montana closed the gap to 23-20, but two kills from Becca Mau closed the set for the Vandals, 25-21.
Montana (7-17, 3-9) reversed the table on Idaho in the second frame. The Griz opened up a 5-1 lead early on. A 3-0 run from Montana put the Vandals in a 16-9 hole midway through the set. Idaho put together a 4-0 run to cut the Montana lead to 18-14. The Griz got to set point at 24-19 and evened the match with a Brianna Gardner kill to claim the set, 25-20.
“I thought we started the match strong,” head coach Debbie Buchanan commented. “Then we got in a lull. We really had to work from there. Montana does some great things and until we started to get after them a bit more—serving tougher and getting them out of system—that is when we really saw the points come in.”
Sami Parris got the nod to open the third set, and took advantage with back-to-back aces to begin the set. A Jenna Ellis ace capped a 3-0 run for the Vandals, pushing the lead to 6-4. Tineke Bierma and Laine Waters stood tall at the net, combining for block to put Idaho up 9-5. Bierma totaled 2 block assists in the frame, getting her second alongside Ryter to make it 23-18. Kaela Straw gave Idaho set-point at 24-19 and Sharp finished the set at 25-20.
“Our plan was to swing high and hard,” Sharp explained. “We stayed pretty consistent with that, especially in over the final two sets.”
The Silver and Gold got out to a 9-4 start in the fourth. Idaho never gave up the lead in the final game. A 3-0 run for the Griz cut the lead to 19-18. Kills from Peterson and Bierma forced Montana into a timeout, trailing 21-18. A UM attack error continued the Vandal run. Idaho was able to capitalize on seven Montana attack errors in the set, including match-point.
Parris led the Vandals with a career-high 27 assists. Bierma closed the night with nine kills and four blocks. Ryter swung .429 percent with eight kills and four blocks. Montana's Hannah Sackett led all players with 15 kills on the night.
The Vandals have two more matches left on the homestand, before closing the season on the road. Next week Idaho welcomes in Southern Utah (Nov. 5) and Eastern Washington (Nov. 7).
For more information on Idaho Athletics, visit GoVandals.com. Fans can also follow Idaho volleyball on Twitter, @IdahoVolleyball.
