MOSCOW, Idaho— Three Vandals recorded double-digit kills as Idaho women's volleyball team battled to its eight-straight win, defeating Weber State at home, (25-18, 21-25, 27-25, 25-20) Saturday.
 
Idaho improved to 16-8 overall and 10-2 in the Big Sky, while also standing on an eight-game win streak at home. The Wildcats dropped to 13-8, 8-4 in the conference. The Vandals hit .229 as a team and held the Wildcats to a .153 clip.  While Weber State out-blocked the Vandals, 12.0-11.0, Idaho held onto an 84-82 advantage in digs.

First Set Summary
Opening the first set neck and neck until 3-3, the Vandals then went on a 7-0 run.  Weber State would work for a comeback, but the Vandals defense held the Wildcats to a .022 clip making it hard for Weber to create any offensive momentum.  Idaho forced eight attacking errors from the Wildcats, while the Vandals had four.

Its a block party in Mem Gym! #GoVandals pic.twitter.com/S59sgouCEa

— Vandal Volleyball (@IdahoVolleyball) October 28, 2018

Second Set Summary
Despite hitting at a .433 clip as a team, the Vandals were unable to get the second set win over the Wildcats. Weber hitting an impressive .469 clip with 17 kills on 32 attempts and two errors. Not too far off, Idaho struck down 15 kills on 30 attempts with two errors as well as a team.  Three early kills and a service ace gave Weber State a 5-1 edge before the Vandals could tie up the game at 7-7. The set went back-and-forth with the ballgame tied up once more at 20-20. Weber State would then score four-straight unanswered points to win the set, 25-21.
 
Third Set Summary
The Vandals got off to an early 3-1 lead sparked by a Wildcat error, then followed by a service ace from Becca Owen and a kill by Kaela Straw. The two teams traded points the rest of the set, with the Vandals holding no more than a four-point lead. Idaho reached set point, 24-22, when the Wildcats decided to go on a 4-0 run, which put them ahead 25-24. Down a point, the Vandals responded to the pressure with two straight kills by senior Sarah Sharp after a service error by Weber State.

Fourth Set Summary
Set four saw much of the same as both teams fought for the lead while matching each other point for point. Idaho would soon breakaway grabbing a 14-8 lead and forcing a Weber State timeout. After a Wildcat block, Seniors Sarah Sharp and DeVonne Ryter laid down two kills to extend the Vandals lead. The score sat at 23-17 when Idaho used a timeout to regroup. It was a timeout well spent because Idaho took the set, 25-20.
 

Vandals Win, 25-20!#GoVandals pic.twitter.com/CFWmmiCfiP

— Vandal Volleyball (@IdahoVolleyball) October 28, 2018

Vandal Notables
Senior leadership was imperative in Saturday's defeat over Weber State as Straw, Sharp and Reece Carman each posted double-digit kills on the Night, while Ryter tallied two aces and six blocks. Delaney Hopen also contributed with two aces and 13 digs. Setter Haylee Mathis totaled 45 assists and Alycia Wodke record 27 digs followed by Becca Owen with 12. 


 
Up Next
Idaho travels next to Portland, Oregon, to take on Portland State on Thursday, Nov. 1, at 7 p.m. PT.

Fans can stay up-to-date on all things Idaho volleyball by following the team on Twitter and Instagram, @IdahoVolleyball.
 
For more information on Idaho Athletics, visit GoVandals.com. Fans can also find Idaho on Twitter and Instagram, @Idaho_Vandals, or on Facebook by searching Idaho Vandals.