MOSCOW, Idaho – The Idaho volleyball team (1-11) opens its 2023 Big Sky Conference schedule this week, hosting Montana State on Thursday, Sept. 21 before traveling to Flagstaff to take on Northern Arizona on Saturday, Sept. 23.

Thursday's match against the Bobcats (7-3) kicks off at 6 p.m. from Memorial Gym, while Saturday's tilt with the Lumberjacks (3-8) is set to get underway at 5:30 p.m. PT. Both matches will be streamed live on ESPN+.
 
HOW TO FOLLOW 
Idaho vs. Montana State // Sept. 21 at 6 p.m.
Watch: ESPN+
Live Stats: SIDEARM Live Stats
Tickets: GoVandals.com/Tickets
Theme: Whiteout

Idaho vs. Northern Arizona // Sept. 23 at 5:30 p.m. PT
Watch: ESPN+
Live Stats: StatBroadcast 

ABOUT IDAHO

• Idaho looks to find a spark entering conference play this week after finishing preseason action with a 1-11 record. The Vandals closed non-conference play at the Utah Tech/Southern Utah Invite last week, falling to Marshall (3-1), Utah Tech (3-1) and Southern Utah (3-0). 
• Despite coming up short on the weekend, second-year starter Taryn Vrieling was effective on the offensive and defensive end. She recorded 10 or more kills in all three matches and recorded her fourth career double-double with 14 kills and 12 digs in a loss at Utah Tech.  
• Continuing to lead on the defensive end is sophomore libero Aine Doty. She is as efficient as they come in the back row this season, posting a league-leading 4.78 digs per set and ranking second in total digs with 196. The Colorado Springs native has posted double-digit digs in 11 of 12 matches this season and recorded at least 20 digs in three matches.  
• Fifth-year transfer Renata Lopez Morales leads the Vandals at the net with 28 total blocks. 
• A trio of first-year Vandals earn time at setter, with freshman Lacy Cox leading the charge with 140 assists. Keelyn Muell returned to the lineup last week and saw action for the first time since the Vandal Volleyball Invitational. She recorded 67 total assists on the weekend, including 20-plus assists in each match. Another strong freshman performer is outside hitter Zuzanna Wieczorek, who holds the second most kills on the team with 60.

SCOUTING MONTANA STATE 

• Montana State closed out preseason action with a 7-3 overall mark and a 1-1 road record. The Cats earned quality wins over Oregon State, North Dakota, St. Thomas, and Seattle U twice to start 2023.
• A trio of Bobcats has hit the century mark in kills to lead the offensive attack - Kira Thomsen (162), Jourdain Kamps (115) and Madilyn Siebler (104). Thomsen ranks first in the conference in kills per set with 4.15 while Kamps ranks sixth in the Big Sky with a .292 hitting percentage. 
• The MSU defense is led by middle blocker Avery Turnage, who ranks second in the conference in blocks per set with 1.10. Lauren Lindseth is also a significant contributor defensively with 161 digs and 4.13 digs per set.  
• The Vandals hold a 39-16 overall record over the Bobcats in the series. Idaho looks to snap a five-game losing streak on Thursday.

SCOUTING NORTHERN ARIZONA

• Northern Arizona posted a 3-8 record during preseason action, earning wins over Tarleton State (3-1), UAPB (3-0) and Boise State (3-2). The Lumberjacks carry a 1-3 mark at home this season. 
• Attackers Hanah Stoddard and Kylie Moran lead NAU's offense with 122 and 100 kills, respectively. Karya Suvarioglu and Keira Hall split time at setter with each totaling 176 assists.
• Millie O'Ketter holds down the libero position for the Lumberjacks with 178 digs and 4.45 per set - ranking second in the league. Kendall Robertson leads the team with 28 blocks and 1.04 per set. 
• Northern Arizona is 22-13 all-time over Idaho and 7-3 over the last 10 meetings. 

UP NEXT: The Vandals travel to face Weber State (Sept. 28) and Idaho State (Sept. 30) next week. 

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