RIVERSIDE, Calif. - Idaho Volleyball got off to a competitive start at The Joust in Riverside, hanging tough with Sacred Heart on the first day of the tournament and coming back from a late deficit in the fourth set to force a fifth and take the match to the wire before falling to start Week 3.
The competition was neck-and-neck all the way, with more ties in the first set than lead changes throughout the match. Neither team had more than a two-point advantage in the first frame. Kailee Wakatake started the day out with back-to-back service aces, and Kiana Greer and Sarah Sullivan got the offense rolling. Sophie Danielson and Allie Ferrin came on strong later in the action, and the Vandals established control at the net to force the Pioneers into costly errors, but couldn't close out with the lead.
UI responded with a commanding second-set win to even up the scoreboard. Greer and Koen Makaula led the way for an early 8-1 run and, despite a fervent comeback attempt by Sacred Heart, the Vandals went into the media break with the lead. They built on that coming out of the timeout with dominant net control from Makaula and Danielson that ultimately secured the set and the tie.
The Pioneers took control early, capitalizing on Vandal errors to build a lead they wouldn't relinquish after the eleventh point. Idaho fought back with late points from Danielson and Anika Hudson, but fell to 1-2.
The fourth set echoed the first in many ways, especially with neither team gaining a clear advantage until late. The main difference between the two periods was the Vandals catching fire late in the set. Down 14-15 at the media timeout, Sullivan, Makaula, and Danielson gave Idaho the late-stage lead, and Hudson put away the sealing kill by way of a Zola Zuccolo assist to force the fifth and final frame.
Continuing the theme, Idaho and Sacred Heart traded blows all set long, trading runs and momentum swings to guarantee extra points at 14 apiece. Makaula kept the Vandals in it, sharing a block with Danielson and notching a kill to keep the score knotted at 16, but two Pioneer points ended the match after that.
Greer (15), Makaula (12), and Danielson (11) all picked up double-digit kills in the action, while Greer also tallied 11 digs to post a double-double. Makaula and Danielson each posted a half dozen total blocks. Zuccolo led the way with 25 assists, while Csenge Krakoczki posted 16.
UP NEXT
Idaho continues the action in Riverside on Friday, taking on North Dakota. First serve is set for 11:00 AM.
