Vandal volleyball traveled to the Windy City last week, picking up the first win of the season during a late-week tournament in the University of Illinois – Chicago Invitational.
Idaho vs DePaul
The Vandals were on the verge of victory against DePaul. In set one, Idaho held a 22-20 lead before allowing a 5-1 run by the Blue Demons. The second set saw DePaul playing off of the momentum of the first, stringing together a pivotal bulk of points near the end of the match.
Idaho held a 22-19 lead before the Demons managed another run, scoring the final six points of the set to go up 2-0.
The Vandals put together a win in set three, playing off nine attack errors by DePaul to take the advantage.
The final set was closely contested, featuring 10 ties and five lead changes. DePaul would eventually go on an 8-3 run to close out the contest with a 25-23 victory.
Junior outside hitter Kaela Straw recorded 16 kills to lead the Vandals while junior libero Alycia Wodke totaled 26 digs.
Idaho head coach Debbie Buchanan said she was pleased with her team’s offense, but thought the team needed to do better with defensive adjustments.
“We out-blocked and out served our opponents tonight,” Buchanan said. “We did a decent job of digging the ball. We need to continue to build thrust and put the ball away when we get caught out of system.”
Idaho vs University of Illinois-Chicago
In the first win of the season, the Vandals extinguished the Flames of UIC with a five-set marathon performance.
Junior setter Haylee Mathis provided 47 percent of Idaho’s scores with a career-high of 56 for the contest. Straw also surpassed her career-best for kills of 21, recording 25 in a full-set match.
After falling to a 10-5 disadvantage early in set, the Vandals managed to put together a 7-1 run.
The 26-24 comeback win was capped off by one of 17 total kills by junior outside hitter Reece Carman.
Idaho handled the Flames in the third set with a 25-20 win. Redshirt freshman defensive specialist Maura Donovan’s ace in the middle of a 6-1 run helped propel the Vandals to a strong finish.
The final set featured seven total ties, but Idaho was up 14-13 with UIC serving. Senior middle blocker Torrin Crawford slammed home her ninth kill for the winning point.
Idaho played solid defensively throughout the contest, recording 67 digs, 19 by Wodke and 13 each added by sophomore outside hitter Delaney Hopen and Mathis.
Buchanan said she was proud of her team’s will to keep competing and Straw’s impressive performance.
“We were just a bigger team,” Buchanan said. “We knew that if we stayed in system we would be able to hit above and around them. I think Kaela did that. She was able to get some good shots in.”
Idaho’s road trip continues with the Grand Canyon Invitational beginning Friday Sep. 8 in Phoenix, Arizona.
Colton Clark can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @coltonclark95