MOSCOW, Idaho—Idaho's push towards the Big Sky Tournament returns to Memorial Gym on Thursday. The Vandals open win interstate rival Idaho State. Thursday's match marks the Vandals' annual Pink Game. Admission is free to fans who wear pink to the match.
The team will be selling shirts for $10. All proceeds benefit the Light a Candle Foundation.
The Silver and Gold will have a quick turnaround, closing the week at Eastern Washington on Friday. Both matches are set for 7 p.m. PT.
Quotable: "We are just trying to become a better volleyball team right now. Can we better our game? The sad thing is we have glimpses of doing some really great things. We are just not coming out and starting matches that way. We are trying so hard to win, that we are not really focused on the process." – head coach
Debbie Buchanan
LAST TIME
• Idaho extended its current losing streak to five matches
• The Vandals fell last week to both Sacramento State and Portland State
• The Vandals averaged 10.86 kills per set last week, totaling 76
• Sophomore Sarah Sharp led Idaho with 21 kills
ON TAP
• The Vandals have back-to-back matches with Idaho State and EWU
• Idaho is currently 10th in the Big Sky standings, looking to move up to qualify for the tournament
• The Vandals are 0-3 against the Bengals in recent meetings
• Idaho looks for revenge against EWU after a 3-2 loss two weeks ago
VANDAL FACTS
• Idaho's 74 kills and 71 assists at SUU rank fifth and fourth most, respectively, in the Big Sky this season
• The Vandals have twice totaled 199 total attacks, ranking 11th most in the Big Sky
• The Vandals recorded a season-high 97 digs against NAU (9th Big Sky)
• Idaho ranks eighth in the conference with a .191 hitting percentage
• The Vandals are seventh in the Big Sky with 1.89 blocks/set
• Idaho was picked to finish sixth in the conference by the Big Sky coaches
• Head coach Debbie Buchanan is in her 17th season. She is the longest tenured coach at Idaho, taking over the program in 2000.
• Idaho returns seven letterwinners from the 2015 season, including Terra Varney the team's lone senior.
• Idaho has finished .500 or better in conference play in 13 consecutive seasons, going a combined 131-81 in WAC/Big West/ Big Sky matches since 2003
• 2015 marked Idaho's 11th consecutive conference postseason tournament. The Vandals won Big Sky championships in their final four seasons in the Big Sky, 1992-95, before returning to the conference in 2014.
• Idaho boasts a young roster in 2016 with 12 underclassmen (seven freshmen, five sophomores)
About Idaho State: The Bengals have won seven straight matches. Idaho State swept Big Sky Player of the Week honors. Junior Chloe Hirst was named offensive player of the week while freshman Haylie Keck earned defensive honors. HIrst recorded career-highs in kills, attacks and digs last week, helping ISU defeat North Dakota and Northern Colorado. Keck registered 54 total digs. This season, ISU is averaging 13.2 kills while hitting .197 with 12.3 assists per set. Defensively, the Bengals average nearly a dig more than their opponents at 16.9 per set. All-Time Series: Tied, 19-19; Last Meeting: ISU, W, 3-1
About Eastern Washington: The Eagles are have dropped two matches since defeating Idaho, 3-2, in Memorial Gym two weeks ago. EWU lost a tough 3-2 decision at Portland State, before getting swept at Sacramento State. Sophie Miller, EWU's setter, has recorded seven double-doubles in her last eight matches. She ranks third in aces per set at 0.31, while she is also 10th in assists per set at 8.01.
All-Time Series: Idaho, 46-31; Last Meeting: EWU, W, 3-2
Prior to Thursday's Idaho will be hosting Trick-or-Treat at the Dome. Hosted by Idaho SAAC, the event is free. Doors open at 5 p.m. PT. Fans in costume can get free admission to Thursday's match.
All Big Sky matches are streamed on WatchBigSky.com
Fans can stay up-to-date on all things Idaho volleyball by following the team on twitter, @IdahoVolleyball.
