MOSCOW, Idaho - After a four-week slate of a dozen non-conference matches in various corners of the country, Idaho Volleyball turned the page to the first week of Big Sky Conference matches. Sitting with three wins under their belt, already the most for the program since 2022, the Vandals matched up with two of the league's best, looking to secure a bid to the postseason for the first time in five years.

Conference play began with Idaho traveling to Flagstaff to take on Northern Arizona who, initially picked T-7 in the preseason polls, surged out to a #1 overall 10-3 record, knocking off Texas Tech and Grand Canyon in the process.

Idaho started out strong, taking a pair of one-point leads early in set 1. Kiana Greer, Cayton White, and Sarah Sullivan orchestrated the offense, each collecting multiple kills and driving the Vandals to come back from down 14-20 before falling by just three in the set. UI flexed its muscles in the second frame, taking advantage of multiple Lumberjack errors to open up with a 11-7 lead. However, NAU rebounded and rattled off seven straight to reclaim the lead. The teams traded blows with multiple ties and lead changes before the hosts pulled away for a set 2 win. The 'Jacks secured six of the first seven points in the third frame and built a lead that they would not relinquish to close out the night.

Kiana Greer led the way for Idaho with nine kills. Sarah Sullivan had a hand in three total blocks, and Sara Hiebert checked in and racked up a pair of her own in the match. Kyriah Trefren totaled 12 digs, and Aleina Manaois, Sullivan, and Greer each tallied at least a half dozen. 

On Saturday, the Vandals returned home for the first time in nearly a month, hosting Montana in Memorial Gym. The Griz had swept defending conference champion Sacramento State in Missoula on Thursday to secure their ninth-straight victory. 

Idaho came out elated to be home, and showed early that they would not be deterred by the challenge in front of them, riding kills from Kiana Greer and a service ace by Sarah Sullivan to a 6-3 lead in the first frame. Montana would rebound and go on a pair of runs to take the early set win. A back and forth second set went the way of the visitors as well, but the Vandals showed their grit and determination in the third, clawing all the way back from down 5-12 to knot up the frame at 15 apiece. From there, the Griz went on a 5-0 run and did enough to close out the night.

FINAL NOTES

• Kiana Greer led the Vandals with 15 kills vs. Montana, her ninth double-digit total of the season. Idaho's three wins have all come with Greer tallying 10+ kills.

  • Greer and Cayton White have been swapping the team lead in this category all season long. After Saturday's action, Greer has taken the lead back at 165.

• Kyriah Trefren has now tallied double-digit digs in five straight matches

• Aleina Manaois and Csenge Krakoczki have each crossed the 200-mark in assists. Manaois sits at 278 averaging 7.51/set, and Krakoczki has tallied 230 and 6.57/set.

• Season-low service aces allowed in back-to-back matches by Idaho, surrendering just two vs. Northern Arizona and one vs. Montana.

UP NEXT
Idaho has a shorter series on tap for week 2 of conference play, traveling just down the street to Cheney, WA, to take on Eastern Washington on their home court.

FOLLOW THE VANDALS
To stay up to date on Vandal Volleyball, follow the team on Instagram(vandalvolleyball), X(IdahoVolleyball), and visit govandals.com