Box Score MOSCOW, Idaho – The University of Idaho Volleyball team fell to Idaho State in the series opener on Saturday night, 3-2. The Vandals (3,2,2-1) took an early 1-0 lead, but fell behind 2-1  to the Bengals (2-3, 2-3). Idaho took the fourth set, forcing a fifth, but were unable to complete the comeback, falling 15-9.

Nikki Ball led the Vandals with 17 kills, just one shy of her career high. She also totaled a team-high five block assists and one solo block.  Donne'e Janzen totaled 37 assists. Becca Owen led the Vandals with 20 digs. Owen and Kennedy Warren each had one service ace. Warren and Avery Housley each notched a double-double. Housley had 13 kills and 11 digs while Warren totaled 11 and 11.

 Idaho and the Bengals traded leads throughout the first set. Idaho took a four-point advantage, 20-16, following a Kennedy warren kill. The Bengals rallied late, but a kill from Warren gave the Vandals set point, 24-21. An ensuing Idaho State attacking error secured the win for the Vandals, 25-21.

In the second set Idaho State controlled form the start, jumping out to an 8-2 lead. The Vandals came within two, 10-8, after a Nikki Ball kill, but it wasn't enough as the Bengals won the second set, 25-18.

Idaho started out strong to begin the third set. A kill from Warren gave the Vandals a 9-5 lead. Idaho State cut into the Vandals' lead and the two sides traded leads down the stretch of the set. Two Idaho errors in the end gave the Bengals a 29-27 win in set three.

 Much like the third set the Vandals jumped out to a solid start, leading 7-2 after a Housley kill. Idaho's lead quickly vanished. An attacking error by the Vandals tied the set up 14-14. Idaho and the Bengal's traded the next ten points. Another kill from Housley extended Idaho's lead to two, 20-18. Another kill from Housley and a kill from Allison Munday extended Idaho's lead to four, 22-18. The Bengals cut into Idaho's lead, tying the set up 24-24. Following Idaho State's run, Warren notched a kill to put the Vandals up 25-24. On the ensuing possession for the Bengals, Mahala Bradburn committed a bad set, resulting in an Idaho win 26-24.

Idaho State controlled the fifth set from the beginning, leading 4-1 early. The Vandals tried to cut into to Idaho State's lead down the stretch, but it wasn't enough as the Bengals won 15-9 in the set and 3-2 overall.

Idaho totaled 56 kills in the match compared to 69 for the Bengals. The biggest statistical discrepancy was in serving. Idaho State totaled 13 service aces while the Vandals had just two.

Idaho recorded 20 block assists, four solo blocks, and 14 total blocks while the Bengals had just nine total blocks.

UP NEXT: Idaho will take on Idaho State for game two tomorrow at 5 p.m. in Pocatello, Idaho.