Box Score MISSOULA, Montana – The University of Idaho Volleyball team defeated Montana in game two of the series on Monday night, 3-1. The Vandals (5,5,3-3) took the first set, 25-10, jumping out in front of the Griz (2-10,2-10) 1-0 in the match. Montana took the second set before the Vandals won the next two, closing out a 3-1 match win in the fourth set, 25-16.
Kennedy Warren led the Vandals with 18 kills in the match. She also had nine digs and seven block assists.
Peyten Ely totaled 36 assists and Donne'e Janzen had 11.
Alaina Lacey had a team-high 15 digs while
Avery Housley chipped in 12.
Bea Whitling had a team-high nine total blocks, including one solo.
Allison Munday had a career-high 15 kills in the match while hitting .467.
Nikki Ball had a team high .588 hitting percentage and Warren hit .429.
To open the contest Idaho took control early, jumping out to a 7-3 lead following a kill from freshman
Bea Whitling. Montana began to cut into the Vandal lead before
Rachel Mills extended the advantage to four, 11-7, following a kill.
Kennedy Warren put the Vandals up 16-9 and a block from
Nikki Ball and
Allison Munday extended the lead to 21-9. Idaho eventually put the Griz away, winning 25-10. Idaho had 14 kills in the match and hit .520, their highest marl of the season in a single set. Munday led the squad with four kills in the first.
Montana gained control early in the second set, jumping out to a 4-1 lead. The Vandals cut the lead to two, 15-13 following a quick strike from Warren but were unable to tie or take the lead down the stretch. Montana pulled away for a 25-21 win in set two.
Idaho found their hot offensive start from the first set in the second, leading 10-5 in the early goings. After a Montana run the Vandals extended the lead back to five, 15-10 after a kill from
Bea Whitling. Munday gave Idaho a 21-17 lead after her 12
th kill of the match and the squad would go on to win the set 21-18, going up 2-1 in the match. Idaho had 16 kills in the set and hit .417.
Idaho once again got off to a strong start to begin the fourth set, leading 10-5 early. Munday set a career-high in kills with her 14
th, extending Idaho's lead to seven, 16-9. Warren put the Vandals up seven, 19-12, with another kill. The Vandals held off the Griz the rest of the way, winning 25-16 and 3-1 in the match. Idaho continued to hit well with 15 kills and a .367 hitting percentage in the final set.
Idaho hit .323 for the match, their second-highest percentage of the season. The Vandals also totaled 57 kills compared to just 43 for Montana. The Griz hit .104 in the match.
Idaho had 17 total blocks in the match while the Griz had 11. The Griz had 16 block assists and no solo blocks while Idaho managed 28 block assists and three solo blocks.
Idaho edged Montana in service aces, 4-2.
Peyten Ely had a team-high three.
UP NEXT: Idaho will return home for a pair of matches against Montana State next week beginning on Sunday Mar. 7 at 2 p.m.