The University of Idaho has seen its fair share of dynamic duos, but volleyball almost requires something different in terms of team construction.
Sure, Mikayla Ferenz and Taylor Pierce can anchor an entire generation of women’s basketball
teams, but volleyball’s constant rotations and fluid positions require a menagerie of players with complementary skill sets.
This year’s senior class is buoyed by outside hitter Kaela Straw and middle blocker DeVonne Ryter, who have given everything to an Idaho program in the driver’s seat for a regular-season Big Sky title.
Ryter provides plenty of athleticism for the middle of the Vandals’ lineup. As a relatively shorter middle blocker at 6-foot, Ryter compensates with explosiveness that keeps her among the conference’s best in hitting percentage and blocks.
“I have done really well this year, even though last year was statistically better for me,” Ryter said. “As people have started to figure out who I am and I’ve got somewhat of a target on my back. I have to continue to be mentally locked in and positive and playing for my team.”
That target is certainly well earned, as Ryter has grown from a prep star during her days in Sedona, Arizona, into a fully-formed X-factor at Idaho. She earned her first career start right out of the gates in Idaho’s third match of the year as a freshman and never looked back.
Ryter finished her sophomore year with just under a full block per set, placing her in the conference’s top 10 for the first time. Her off-court con- tributions to the team would not go unrecognized as well, as she received her first Big Sky All-Academic honors.
Courtesy of Idaho Athletics
Steady improvement became the norm as Ryter finished first on the team and third in the Big Sky in hitting percentage while also recording the sixth-best blocks per set figure. In spite of a season worthy of Second Team All-Big Sky honors and new career highs in almost every statistical category for Ryter, the team once again fell short to top seed North Dakota.
“When we went to the Big Sky tournament last year, we almost felt intimidated by North Dakota as if they were the team to beat,” Ryter said. “The biggest difference between the years is confidence, not cockiness or entitlement, and we trust and know each other and we know what it takes to win.”
Ryter is just one example of a multitalented piece of Idaho’s puzzle, and Head Coach Debbie Buchanan has relied on her talents for a long time.
“DeVonne is a key part to what we’re doing, and most teams are really trying to key in on her, which can open the gap for outside hitters,” said Buchanan. “She’s explosive and always helping our offense in one way or another.”
The Vandals avenged their only conference losses to Idaho State and Weber State in large part to finishing strikes from Ryter in two sets against the Bengals. However, Idaho’s outside standouts like Kaela Straw seem to always come through when the offense needs a spark.
“I think we grew a lot over preseason because we played a lot of really tough teams,” Straw said. “We battled inju- ries and not having some girls for some games, so that was our biggest hump to get over early and we’re in a spot to succeed now.”
Straw has been a steady force for a Vandal team that had an uneven start to the season. After finishing last season as a second team All-Big Sky honoree, Straw started the season with two consecutive all-tournament awards at the Pepperdine/CSUN Invitational and the Idaho Volleyball Classic, including a 27-kill performance in the final match of the Idaho Volleyball Classic that earned her tournament MVP honors.
The Spokane, Washington native has been a difference maker in Moscow since she first arrived on campus. After sitting out a redshirt season in 2014, she earned her first start as a redshirt freshman in the Big Sky Tournament against North Dakota. After an 18-kill performance, she was named to the All-Tournament team and was an Idaho Athlete of the Week. Straw’s career has followed a constant upward trajectory from there, including increased hitting percentages and kills per set each year to go along with various preseason tournament honors.
“People can expect us to battle with tough teams in our conference, regardless of size. We’re well prepared for just about anything and it’s going to show,” Straw said.
In spite of the myriad accomplishments for both stars, the elusive conference title still remains as unfinished business.
After a dominant 12-0 run in confer- ence play, the team stands alone at the top of the Big Sky and in control of their own destiny.
Two conference matches remain, including a matchups with Northern Arizona and Southern Utah for senior night.
“We’re not even looking to the tournament at this point, we’re just taking things one game at a time and treating each opponent with the respect they deserve,” Buchanan said.
With only one week of regular season play left and a roster populated with standouts like DeVonne Ryter and Kaela Straw, Idaho volleyball could have a Big Sky conference championship and a deep tournament run to worry about very soon.
Jonah Baker can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @jonahpbaker