The Vandal volleyball team ended its win streak this weekend, falling to San Jose State and No. 7 Hawaii.
The Vandals (11-11, 5-4 WAC) had won five consecutive games coming into the weekend, but that ended Friday night with a heartbreaking five-set loss to San Jose State. The Vandals will have to wait until Thursday to start another streak when they take on La. Tech and then New Mexico State on Saturday.
Idaho coach Debbie Buchanan said she thought the Spartans were a better team than their record showed.
“Both teams definitely came to play,” Buchanan said. “We talked to the kids about the importance of this match because we know San Jose is playing well, they just beat Utah State in four. It was a battle for sure.”
The teams went back and forth for the first four sets and it all came down to a pivotal fifth set. The Vandals had a 6-5 lead at one point, but the Spartans went on a 7-0 run and took a commanding lead. Idaho battled back, but it was too late as the Spartans took the set 15-12, clinching the match and defeating Idaho in San Jose for the second year in a row.
Buchanan said it came down to her team not executing in the end.
“We need to be better in those fifth games as far as execution,” Buchanan said. “We didn’t give up a run of seven points throughout the whole match, and then we did it in game five.”
The Vandals dropped their second match of the road trip when they were swept at Hawaii. Similar to their first meeting this season, the match was close throughout with 32 ties and 13 lead changes, but in the end Hawaii proved to be too much for the Vandals. In the first and third set Idaho trailed 23-24 down the stretch, but on both occasions we’re unable to tie and extend the match.
Senior Alicia Milo was the star for Idaho this weekend, with 37 kills between the two matches and snagging her fifth double-double of the year at San Jose State.
The Vandals will have to rebound and try to get back on track as they head into the final stretch of the season.
The Vandals are third in the WAC and will need to nab a few more wins to keep that position heading into the WAC tournament.
The Vandals swept La. Tech in their first meet.ing this season, but lost to New Mexico State in four sets.