MOSCOW, Idaho – The Idaho volleyball team embarks on the 2024 season, traveling to compete in the Betty Austin Invitational for a two-day tournament in Huntsville, Alabama, Aug. 30-31. The field consists of host Alabama A&M, Southern Illinois and Chattanooga.
Match play gets underway Friday against Alabama A&M at 1 p.m. for the opening match of the season. Saturday features a doubleheader, starting first with Southern Illinois at 9 a.m. followed by Chattanooga at 2 p.m.
HOW TO FOLLOW
Idaho vs. Alabama A&M // Aug. 30 at 1 p.m. PT
Live Stats:
SIDEARM Stats
Idaho vs. Southern Illinois // Aug. 31 at 9 a.m. PT
Live Stats:
SIDEARM Stats
Idaho vs. Chattanooga // Aug. 31 at 2 p.m. PT
Live Stats:
SIDEARM Stats
ABOUT IDAHO: The Vandals welcome back 10 members from last year's squad, including seven contributors who combined to start in 74 matches. Outside hitters
Taylor Brickey and
Zuzanna Wieczorek look to build off a season that saw them each surpass the century mark in kills. Idaho also returns their leader in assists (305) with setter
Natalia Wielgus starting her second year as a Vandal. Defensively, UI welcomes back four blockers who recorded 20 or more blocks last season in Wieczorek (25),
Chiara Gennari (25),
Lauryn Arnold (23) and
Ceren Sert (21).
Ahead of the 2024 season, the Vandals added four newcomers that include two transfers and two freshmen. Graduate transfer
Miya Carmichael will provide leadership as one of the five seniors on the roster. The Murrieta, California native competed in 62 matches across three seasons at Eastern Kentucky, where she compiled 637 assists and 287 digs. Another key transfer making her debut in a Vandal uniform is
Madu Fontes. The junior out of Brazil played two seasons at Florida Southwestern State and helped lead the Bucs to back-to-back Junior College Championships.
Ada Isik and
Nisan Ozdogan make their first appearance at the Division l level.
The Vandals' roster is built around international talent from Brazil, Poland, Turkey, and Spain and American flair from California, Idaho, Oregon, and Utah
SCOUTING ALABAMA A&M: Alabama A&M finished 12-19 overall and 11-5 in conference play last season, falling in the quarterfinals of the SWAC Tournament. Head coach Dr. Brandon Reeves enters his first season as the Bulldogs head coach. Leading the charge for Alabama A&M is returning senior outside hitter and the 2023 SWAC Newcomer of the Year, Saldy Amparo-Smith. The SWAC Preseason honoree finished last season with a team-leading 244 kills in 30 matches, while also pitching in on the defensive end with 160 digs and 33 blocks.
SCOUTING SOUTHERN ILLINOIS: Southern Illinois was picked fifth in the Missouri Valley Conference preseason poll after finishing the 2023 season with a 20-12 (11-7 MVC) overall record and the program's second-ever postseason berth to the NIVC. The Salukis return eight players from last year's roster, including MVC All-Freshman performer Ema Stermenska. The second-year Saluki finished 11th in the MVC in assists with 673 and fourth in service aces with 48.
SCOUTING CHATTANOOGA: Chattanooga looks to build off a season that saw the program earn a 19-14 (6-10) overall record and a second consecutive berth to the SoCon semifinals. Third-year head coach Julie Torbett Thomas welcomes 14 newcomers and seven returnees from last season's roster. A notable addition includes Missouri Valley Conference All-Freshman team honoree Breanah Rives, who made 19 starts as a freshman at Missouri State in 2023. Of the seven Moc returners, four are team leaders in their respective stat categories. Libero Paige Gallentine leads the Mocs as one of the eight All-SoCon preseason team selections. She enters her senior season with consecutive All-SoCon Second Team nods to her credit and a total of 2,069 digs in her career, which ranks third in program history.
UP NEXT: The Vandals travel south to Cedar City, Utah to compete in a two-day tournament at Southern Utah University next weekend (Sept. 6-7).
Stay up-to-date on all things Idaho volleyball by visiting
GoVandals.com or by following the team on Twitter and Instagram, @IdahoVolleyball.
Fans can purchase single-game and season tickets online at
GoVandals.com/Tickets or by calling the box office at (208) 885-6466.
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