MOSCOW, Idaho – Idaho ran into a tough New Mexico squad in the final match of the Idaho Volleyball Classic, dropping the match in five sets, 3-2.
 
Kaela Straw was outstanding, finishing with a career-high 27 kills on 55 attacks, to earn Tournament MVP honors.  Haylee Mathis wrapped up an impressive weekend with 57 more assists, while Sarah Sharp chipped in with 16 kills.  Both Mathis and Sharp were named to the all-tournament team.
 
Neither team was able to take much control early on in the first set, with neither team able to build much of a lead.  The Lobos turned things on midway through the set, taking advantage of a string of Idaho service errors, to win 25-22.
 
Idaho settled in for the second set, winning 25-18.  It didn't take long for the Vandals to build a substantial lead, one that they would not relinquish as they tied the match at one.
 
The third set was an all-out battle.  In true back-and-forth fashion, neither team was able to build a lead of more than three points during the set, with New Mexico seemingly taking control at 22-20.  However, the Vandals stayed strong, tying things up at 24.  But the Lobos took over to close things out with two straight points, winning the set 26-24.
 
Idaho was resilient in the fourth, fighting back from down as many as five midway through the set.  The Vandals would level the score at 14, and keep things close for the remainder of the set.  Idaho was able to take the 24-23 lead late, but New Mexico tied things up to keep the set alive and take a lead at 25-24.  The Vandals locked in from there, scoring the next three points to take the set, 27-25, and force the decisive fifth set.
 
New Mexico jumped out to an early lead in the fifth, taking an 8-5 lead at the switch and then going up 10-5.  The Vandals turned things on, scoring 6-of-7 from there to make things interesting.  The Vandals eventually got back to within one at 14-13, but the Lobos closed things out on the following service.
 
The Vandals are back in action next weekend, at the Pepperdine/CSUN Challenge.
 
All-Tournament Team
Kaela Straw (MVP)
Haylee Mathis
Sarah Sharp
Alexa Dreyer (Santa Clara)
Lauren Twitty (New Mexico)
Kaira Moss (Grand Canyon)
Teagan DeFalco (Grand Canyon)