Box Score
Big Sky Tournament Central
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (November 20, 2015) – Idaho State has been a mainstay as of late in the Big Sky Volleyball Championship, and this year is no different. The Bengals defeated Idaho 3-1 in Friday’s semifinals to advance to their fourth-consecutive Big Sky title match.
Tressa Lyman finished with 20 kills and 12 digs, Bailey Bars chipped in 10 and 11, and the Bengals (23-9) got in position for their potential second championship in the last three years. Big Sky champions in 2013, ISU will be seeking redemption from a 3-0 home loss to Northern Colorado in last season’s championship.
Hayley Farrer produced a stellar all-around match with 48 assists, nine digs and three kills as third-seeded ISU hit .286 for the match. Makenzie Filer put together 12 kills with five blocks and Chloe Hirst added eight kills, 11 digs and four service aces.
In the first set, a pair of kills from Bars with one from Filer in between gave ISU a late three-point lead. Idaho fended off two set points, but a service error nullified the late rally for the Vandals and ISU won 25-23.
The Bengals rode that momentum in the second set, hitting .405. ISU held a slim 11-10 lead, but outscored the Vandals 14-6 the rest of the way to nab a 2-0 advantage heading into the break.
Idaho wouldn’t go down without a fight, as the third set had 13 ties and six lead changes. The Vandals fought off match point with a kill from Kaela Straw, then extended the match with a 26-24 victory. Sarah Sharp combined with Torrin Crawford on a block, then grabbed set point with a kill.
ISU didn’t appear interested in another five-set match, hitting .400 in the fourth set and building a cushion that Idaho couldn’t recover from. Lyman had four kills in the set, with the last setting up match point for Sommer Reeder.
No. 2 Idaho (14-16) was held to .188 hitting and had 25 attack errors as the North Division Champions dropped just their second match in Big Sky tournament history. Straw paced the Vandals with 14 kills on a .478 hitting percentage, while Katelyn Peterson recorded a double-double with 13 kills and 12 digs.
With another ticket booked to the championship match, the Bengals will get a rematch with No. 1 Northern Arizona, this time with the Big Sky title on the line. The championship will be contested on Saturday at 7 p.m.