Jose Bendeck | Argonaut
Stephanie Hagins, Meredith Coba and Becca Mau prepare to receive the ball during the Webber State game at the Memorial Gym.
Sports rivalries are usually based on geography, but after years of playing in separate conferences the Idaho-Idaho State rivalry faltered in volleyball. Now, the rivalry is back and more important than ever. The Vandals and Bengals play Saturday in Memorial Gym in a match that could be for first place in the conference and the potential right to host the conference tournament in November.
“I think within the region that we’re playing in, I think that there’s a lot of rivals that are going to form as we get back into playing in the Big Sky,” Idaho coach Debbie Buchanan said. “I think it’s a healthy thing. We’ve had that with Washington State. We have it with Boise State and it’s a good healthy rival. It’s not where it gets out of control.”
For a rivalry to exist, two teams need to actually play each other. Idaho (11-10 overall, 7-2 Big Sky) and Idaho State (14-8, 8-1) will play each other in volleyball for the first time Saturday night since 2002, when Idaho won 3-1 in Corvallis, Oregon, as a part of the Oregon State Volleyball Showcase.
Buchanan was in her third year as the head coach of the Vandals.
At that time, Idaho represented the Big West Conference and Idaho State represented the Big Sky, as it does today.
The recent volleyball history between the Vandals and Bengals is almost nonexistent. Prior to 2002, the last matchup between the two schools was in 1995 — the last year Idaho was in the Big Sky. Idaho and Idaho State played three times that year.
But from 1982 to 1995, the schools considered themselves rivals because both competed in the same conferences. Idaho and Idaho State battled each other in the Mountain West Athletic Conference from 1982 to 1987 and then both teams joined the Big Sky in 1988.
The Bengals have been in the same conference ever since, while Idaho moved from the Big Sky to the Big West in 1996. The Vandals played in the Big West until 2004 before transferring to the Western Athletic Conference in 2005. The Vandals’ WAC run ended when they joined the Big Sky this year.
“This is going to be a huge game for us,” senior middle blocker Alyssa Schultz said. “If we can get this one, we’re going to be in good shape.”
When the two schools meet for the first time in 12 years Saturday at 7 p.m. in Memorial Gym, the match will be a battle of two of the top teams in the Big Sky.
“They are the team to beat right now when you look at the standings,” Buchanan said. “It’s a big match on Saturday. It’s going to count for a lot and it’s a good thing that we get to play at home.”
Idaho State coach Chad Teichert led his team to the tournament championship last season while also boasting the best overall record in the conference with 23 wins.
“I think it’s important for both of us because both of us want to win our conferences,” Teichert said of the game against Idaho. “Both of us are in position to do it, so it’s a big match.”
The Vandals are tied with North Dakota for the lead in the Big Sky North Division while the Bengals lead the Big Sky South Division.
“I think just anytime there’s two strong teams in-state especially, it’s going to create a big rivalry,” Idaho junior outside hitter Katelyn Peterson said. “There’s two girls on our team from Pocatello and so next year, especially when we go there, there’s going to be a lot of fans cheering for both sides. So I think it’s going to be really good competition.”
Playing Idaho State Saturday and next year in Pocatello might mean a little more to junior defensive specialist Jenna Ellis, who is from Pocatello. Idaho freshman setter Sami Parris is also from Pocatello.
“I’m really looking forward to it,” Ellis said. “It’s a cool opportunity for me just because this year they’re playing here, but when I get to go there, that’ll be a chance for me to go home basically, see family, have friends and family come watch me play.”
Ellis will recognize some of the Idaho State players on the other side of the net Saturday.
Ellis said she knows some of the Idaho State players from playing volleyball against them in high school or while playing club volleyball. She also played on the same team as one of them.
Despite being from Pocatello, Ellis said she didn’t want to go to Idaho State.
The game in Pocatello will come next year, but for now there is a lot riding on Saturday night’s game in Memorial Gym.
Garrett Cabeza can be reached at [email protected]