MOSCOW, Idaho - After opening the season with 12 straight matches away from home, Idaho Volleyball will finally return to Memorial Gym this week, hosting in-state rival Idaho State and Weber State to begin Big Sky Conference play.

The Vandals (9-3) arrive home riding a five-match win streak and their best start to a season since 2008, fresh off a perfect 3-0 run through the New Orleans Invitational. Now the Black and Gold shift focus to league play, where a pair of familiar Big Sky foes await in the home opener.

Thursday's home opener vs. ISU will serve as Idaho's annual "Blackout the Bengals" night, inviting Vandal fans to wear black and give a traditional Moscow welcome to the in-state foes. Free Vandal Koozies will be available while supplies last. Saturday evening's contest vs. Weber State will be followed by an opportunity for fans to have their 2026 season poster signed by the team. 

ABOUT IDAHO STATE
UI and ISU have made the Potato State the center of Big Sky volleyball after two strong non-conference campaigns. The Bengals come to Moscow at 8-4 and as one of the Big Sky's proven contenders, having reached last year's conference championship match as the first No. 8 seed in league history to get there. 

Sean Carter's veteran group returns five of seven starters and is led by senior middle blocker Jaydin Watts, a two-time All-Big Sky honoree. Idaho State owns non-conference wins over Boise State, UNLV and Wichita State, but enters on a two-match slide after dropping a pair at its own Orange & Black Classic.

ABOUT WEBER STATE
Saturday brings one of the Big Sky's benchmark programs. Weber State (7-3) is guided by 12th-year head coach Jeremiah Larsen, the winningest conference coach in school history, whose résumé includes two Big Sky regular-season titles, two tournament titles and two NCAA Tournament berths. The Wildcats, led by preseason all-conference pick Rose Moore, bounced back from a loss to BYU with a four-set win at Utah Valley to close the non-conference slate.

UP NEXT
The homestand kicks off a stretch of conference play that quickly returns to the road, with Idaho traveling to face Montana State on Thursday, Oct. 1 and Montana on Saturday, Oct. 3.

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