After three straight victories in five-set matches, the Idaho volleyball team continued to hit its stride by sweeping the Montana State Bobcats 3-0 (25-21, 26-24, 25-22) Saturday night at the Shroyer Gym in Bozeman, Montana.
The Vandals outplayed the Bobcats in kills, hitting percentage and committed fewer errors in their victory, extending Idaho’s winning streak over Montana State to 16.
Senior outside hitter Katelyn Peterson earned 10 kills, eight digs and an ace for the Vandals.
Setters Meredith Coba and Natalie Jensen earned a combined 41 out of the 42 Idaho assists.
Freshman middle and outside hitter DeVonne Ryter earned a career-high 10 kills with a .692 hitting percentage and five blocks. Ryter’s hitting percentage marked a season-high for the Vandals among players who earned a minimum of 10 kills.
Idaho coach Debbie Buchanan said Ryter came prepared for the match and was a key contributor to the Vandal offense. Buchanan also said the entire team stepped up its game against the Bobcats.
“DeVonne did a great job of being up and ready,” Buchanan said. “It was big for her to get 10 kills. That kind of balanced things out a little. It took everybody tonight. We really needed multiple kids tonight which was great.”
The Vandals’ win puts them at 5-3 in the Big Sky Conference, trailing Eastern Washington, who lost to Montana in five sets for its first conference loss of the season in the North Division.
Idaho will continue to play on the road this week. The team first plays Weber State at 6 p.m. Thursday in Ogden, Utah, and then faces in-state rival Idaho State at 6 p.m. Saturday in Pocatello.
Luis Torres can be reached at [email protected]