Written by Jon Match
POCATELLO, Idaho – The Idaho State Bengals stepped into Memorial Gym in Moscow, Idaho Thursday night and came away with an ICCU Battle of the Domes victory over the Idaho Vandals.
The Bengals improve to (10-7, 2-2 BSC) while the Vandals fall to (3-13, 0-4 BSC).
During the first set, it seemed like the night was going to go all the way of the Bengals. After an Andri Dewey service ace and an attack error by the Vandals, Idaho State had a completely dominant 16-4 lead in the set.
The two teams would trade points back and forth for the remainder of the set before a strong kill by Taylor Burnham and another Idaho error finished the set in favor of the Bengals 25-13. At the end of the set, the Bengals had their most lopsided set victor of the season out hitting the Vandals .240 to .029.
In a theme that would continue throughout the match, Jamie Streit led the way with three of the Bengals’ five service aces in that first set.
The second set proved that not only can the Bengals dominate in a set, but they can also Roar back when down to an opponent.
Close to midway through the set, Idaho Scored on a kill by Allison Munday to extend their lead to 13-7. Taking advantage of Bengal errors to try and even the match.
Idaho State looked the Vandals in the eye and didn’t flinch. After an error by the Vandals, Dewey walked up to the line and knocked in her second service ace of the match sparking what would be an amazing comeback for the Bengals.
With kills by Burnham and another ace by Dewey, the Bengals forced errors out of the Vandals and that seven-point lead evaporated as the Bengals tied the match up 13-13. With the match tied, both teams started a ferocious back-and-forth that would continue to set point.
With the set tied at 23-23 in its final stages, Bengal middle, Rachel Warren dumped the ball perfectly over the net to earn the Bengals the 24-23 lead. On the next play, Dani Devlin set up Jamie Streit who hammered down the ball, scoring the kill and earning the Bengals the comeback victory in the set.
The rest of the match wouldn’t be easy for either team, set three would go back and forth with the Vandals taking the slight edge at the end of the set and avoiding the sweep, winning the third set 25-23.
For the first two-thirds of the fourth set, Idaho had all the momentum going on multiple four-point rallies and playing as hard as they could to force a decisive fifth set.
These are not the Bengals of the past though, and staring down a 17-13 Vandal lead, the Orange and Black got to work.
Emrie Satuala started off the comeback with a kill set up by Andri Dewey. Cutting the lead to three. After the Vandals scored on the next play the Bengals were still looking at a four-point 18-14 deficit.
Dewey took the advantage and tipped the set over the net to score the next point. She was followed by a kill and another ace by Jamie Streit. Just like that, the Bengals wiped away the Vandal lead and the match was tied at 18-18.
Idaho Scored one final point to take a 19-18 lead but the Bengals knew how to close out, ending the match on a 7-0 run capped by a massive kill by Burnham and a team ace to end the match with the Vandals.
After four sets, the Bengals were victorious, earning their 10th win of the season and second win of the conference schedule.
Coach Carter’s Thoughts
“Taylor Burnham carried us in scoring and was all-around amazing. Rachael Warren got her first action of the year and definitely gave us a spark tonight. Our serving and passing won us a match which was awesome. 14 service aces was incredible and I'm extremely proud of our team to find a way to win despite with the adversity we have been hit within the last week."
Bengal Bites
· Rachel Warren had her first start for the Bengals this season Thursday evening. The Bengal graduate student middle ended the night with – six kills and a .357 hitting percentage.
· Taylor Burnham had a career night, scoring a career-high 19 kills and .400 hitting percentage.
· Jamie Streit set a new career-high in service aces, knocking down five tonight against the Vandals. Those five tie her for 4th all-time in single-match aces in ISU history.
· The Bengals were absolutely dominant at the service line, scoring a team-total 14 service aces, tied for 5th all-time in the ISU record book.
· At the net, the Bengals dominated the Vandals, outblocking Idaho 15-8 and tied the season-high for the second match this year.
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POCATELLO, Idaho – Idaho State Soccer picked up its first Big Sky Conference win against the Sacramento State Hornets Sunday afternoon in Sacramento, California, battling to a 1-0 victory over the Hornets.
The Bengals' win stops an eight-game skid and is the Bengals' first win over the Hornets since 2014.
Right from the opening kickoff, the Bengals controlled the match for the first 45 minutes of play. Bengal midfielder Jordyn Roth led the attack for the first 45 recording three shots and one on goal that was just grabbed by the Hornet keeper.
The Bengals showed their team strength through the first half with shots also by Emerson Grafton, Aisley Allen, Deborah Pond and Peyton Dion.
The Bengal defense held strong though, holding the Hornets to only four total shots and not allowing Sacramento State a single shot on goal.
The Second half saw the hornets surge back, desperately trying to break the 0-0 stalemate on their senior day, but the Bengal defense held tough. Any time the hornets tried to push, the Bengal backline held their ground and did not allow Sacramento's offense to gain any ground.
The Bengal defense was so staggering, the Hornets only had one shot on goal the entire match, with 30 seconds left a desperation shot that was easily brought in safe by Kelsey Jargstorf.
With 25 minutes remaining in the match, the Bengals worked together to break the stalemate and take a 1-0 lead in the match.
The goal started with Karlin Wurlitzer corralling the ball around midfield, she then booted the ball downfield where Gabby Warta was waiting to receive it.
Warta, now looking to cross the ball first had to get past the Hornet defender who put up a very physical challenge on the Bengal forward. Warta didn't blink, absolutely bowling over the Sac State defender to cross the ball right into the box.
Multiple Bengals were waiting for the ball, but it was Kaylyn Buchanan who connected with the cross and put it to the back of the net for her first career goal for the Orange and Black.
After the celebrations ended, the Bengals go back to work almost connecting on another three goals and the Bengal defense continued to absolutely stifle the Hornets' attempt at an equalizer.
At the 90-minute whistle, the Bengals were victorious, picking up their first Big Sky Conference win of the year.
