CHENEY, Wash. - Idaho Volleyball broke into the Big Sky win column on Tuesday night, outlasting Eastern Washington in four sets to snap a four-match skid. Behind a 21-kill night from sophomore Kiana Greer and a career-best 18 from Alaina Armstrong, the Vandals captured a marathon opener and never let the Eagles gain much momentum, winning 3-1 in Reese Court to move to 10-7 overall and 1-4 in league play.
The opener set the tone. Idaho and Eastern Washington traded 13 ties and eight lead changes, with the Eagles' Kalista Lukovich pouring in 12 of her 20 kills in the frame alone. Neither side could pull away, and the set spilled into extra points, where the Vandals saved multiple set points before an Armstrong kill finally closed it out 29-27.
Riding that momentum, Idaho seized control of the second. A three-ace service run from Csenge Krakoczki helped the Vandals bolt to a commanding 17-5 lead, and EWU never recovered, hitting into negative territory, as Idaho cruised 25-16 for a 2-0 edge.
The Eagles stayed alive in the third, controlling the frame behind their middle attack, holding Idaho to a sub-.100 hitting clip, and holding off a late Vandal push to take it 25-20.
The Brave and Bold wouldn't be denied in the fourth, building a 19-10 lead behind the hot hitting of Armstrong and a serving spark from Krakoczki and Sarah Sullivan. They weathered a late Eagle rally, and Sarah Sullivan put down the clinching kill for a three-point set win and the match.
Greer led the way with 21 kills, while Armstrong turned in 18 on .318 hitting, season highs for both Vandals and a career high for Armstrong. Csenge Krakoczki racked up a personal best 46 assists and chipped in four of Idaho's seven service aces. The Vandals hit .201 as a team and out-dug the Eagles 75-68, overcoming a 9-4 deficit in team blocks.Â
UP NEXT
The Vandals wrap up their road trip on Saturday, Oct. 10 at Northern Colorado. First serve from Greeley is set for 1 PM PT.
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