California State University at Northridge
1-2,0-0Big West
Idaho State
2-1,0-0Big Sky
Idaho State Blocks its Way Past CSUN in Four Sets
9/1/2024 12:31:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
POCATELLO, Idaho – CSUN junior Amaris Smith led all hitters with 26 kills but Idaho State used a 25-11 advantage in blocks to defeat the Matadors in four sets in the finale of the Idaho State Tournament Sunday afternoon at Reed Gym.
After winning its first match of the season on Saturday, CSUN (1-2) fell to host Bengals by set scores of 25-17, 27-29, 25-22, 25-19.
Smith, CSUN's selection on the All-Tournament Team, had a match-high 26 kills, hitting .206 on 68 swings. Smith's 68 attacks are the seventh-most in a single match in program history and the most since Cieana Stinson took 70 swings against Cal State Fullerton in 2015. She recorded her first double-double of the season by adding 10 digs along with three blocks.
Hailey Brockway posted double digits in kills for the third straight match with 13 (.067) while also adding eight digs and one block. Sophomore setter Katie Kolar notched her third consecutive double-double with 50 assists and 14 digs while both Paige Sentes and Autumn Rojelio each had double figures in digs with 13 and 11 respectively.
The Matadors, who came into the match hitting .246, were limited to a .149 clip (57-32-168) largely due to the Idaho State block which registered 25 stuffs as a team. CSUN wound up with more kills (57-52) but came up short in hitting percentage (.223-.149), aces (6-3), digs (64-63), and blocks.
SET 1: ISU 25, CSUN 17
The Bengals hit .407 to CSUN's .108 and out-blocked the Matadors 7-1 to take the opening set 25-17. CSUN opened the match with a kill from Brockway and an ace from Kolar and would still lead 3-2 following a Turgeon kill. Idaho State claimed three of the next four points to take a 5-4 and the Matadors would not hold another lead. Trailing by one at 11-10, CSUN was outscored 7-2 over the next nine points as the Bengals opened up an 18-12 cushion.
SET 2: CSUN 29, ISU 27
The Bengals led 12-8 before the Matadors rallied back to within one at 14-13. CSUN remained within one at 15-14 on a Smith kill when the hosts scored twice to again lead by three. The ISU lead remained three at 20-17 when kills by Miller and Smith along with a Bengal hitting pulled the Matadors even. Idaho State responded with a 3-0 run before Miller's kill ended the run. The Matadors then scored three straight to take set point at 24-23 when the Bengals saved one set point. Extra points would ensue as the teams traded sideouts until 27-27, when an Iye Okolo kill and an Idaho State hitting error, sent CSUN to the 29-27 win.
SET 3: ISU 25, CSUN 22
The hosts jumped out to an early 9-4 lead before extending the lead to eight at 14-6. A Brockway kill fueled a 4-0 CSUN run that trimmed the deficit to four at 14-10. The Matadors appeared to pull within three but a call was reversed and Idaho State capitalized by claiming five of the next nine points to open up a 20-14 advantage. CSUN rallied late behind an 8-3 run to pull within one on an Okolo kill but the Bengals claimed the final two points to take a two sets to one lead.
SET 4: ISU 25, CSUN 19
After trailing by as many as four in the early going, another kill by Smith brought the Matadors back within two at 12-10. But Idaho State used a 501 run to quickly build its lead back to six at 17-11 forcing a CSUN timeout. Trailing by as many as eight at 20-12, a pair of Miller kills, a pair of blocks, and a Bengal hitting error pulled the Matadors within three (20-17) but the Matadors would get no closer, falling 25-19 in the set and 3-1 in the match.
NOTES
- CSUN's middle duo of Okolo and Tatiana Turgeon combined for nine kills on .316 hitting with 11 blocks.
- CSUN saw its all-time record against Idaho State slip to 15-4 with the Bengals having won the last three meetings.
- ISU head coach Sean Carter, a former libero for the CSUN men's volleyball team, is now 2-0 all-time against his former school.
UP NEXT
CSUN continues tournament play next weekend as the Matadors travel to the State Capitol for three matches at the Sacramento State Invitational. The Matadors will meet the host Hornets on Thursday, San Francisco on Friday, and New Mexico State on Saturday.
#GoMatadors
