Box Score PORTLAND, Oregon – After falling in the first match of the season on Sunday, the University of Idaho Volleyball team bounced back Monday with a thrilling five set win, 3-2 over Portland State to split the series. The Vandals (1-1, 0-0 BSC) handed the Vikings (1-1, 0-0 BSC) their first home loss of the season. Both sides will begin Big Sky conference play next week.
Kennedy Warren led the Vandals for the second consecutive game with 12 kills and chipped in six blocks on the day.
Hailey Pelton recorded 35 assists, while
Becca Owen chipped in with 29 digs.
Nikki Ball led the Vandals with 11 total blocks including 10 block assists and one solo block.
The Vandals got off to a hot start to begin the match. Idaho took the first two sets 25-18 and 25-12 and didn't allow Portland State to lead until the third set. Up 15-14 in the first, Idaho scored nine straight points to lead 24-14. After a 4-0 scoring run for the Vikings, Idaho closed out the first set with a kill from
Kennedy Warren to win, 25-18. The Vandals fell behind to begin both the third and fourth sets. Comeback bids by Idaho fell short in each, falling 25-19 in both sets, forcing a tie-breaking fifth set.
In the fifth neither side was able to take a more than one-point lead in the early goings. After trading points, a solo block from
Nikki Ball gave Idaho a 13-11 advantage. Portland State tied the set up at 15 apiece before back-to-back kills from
Bea Whitling and
Kennedy Warren sealed the victory for the Vandals, 17-15 in the set and 3-2 in the match.
Idaho posted 19 total blocks in the contest and 37 block assists. The Vandals' 37 block assists are the third most all-time in a single match in Idaho volleyball history and are the most since 2010.
Nikki Ball had 11 total blocks and 10 block assists. She also had the only solo block for the Vandals. Both Idaho and Portland State had four service aces in the match.
The Vandals are back in action next week Sunday, Jan. 31, in Moscow, Idaho. Idaho will face Southern Utah at 1 p.m. to begin Big Sky play.
