Robust fans cheered “Portland’s not a state” during Idaho’s Big Sky debut win against the Portland State University Vikings.
The Vandals took on the Vikings in Memorial Gym to start off their season at home with the 3-0 victory.
Idaho head coach Debbie Buchanan said that they are happy to be home.
“It is always good to start off with a win like that,” Buchanan said after the game. “It is very good for our confidence after a tough four weeks of preseason.”
The Vandals saw the Vikings strong, pin heavy offense. Hitting primarily with their outside hitters through the game.
Redshirt sophomore middle blocker Nikki Ball and freshman middle Kyra Palmbush took advantage of this pin heavy offense, shutting down the net blocking on the outsides and not needing to worry about the middle as much.
Palmbush finished the match with 5 blocks and Ball with 3.
Blocking was not the only thing the middles were successful at this game, Ball led the team as the second highest scorer with 12 kills.
Idaho sophomore outside Kennedy Warren led the team in points however.
“It was so much fun just going out there, playing as a team, and playing our game,” Warren said. “Preseason had its ups and downs, but it was all learning, now conference is here we are ready to play.”
Idaho senior outside hitter Delaney Hopen carried the defense as she stepped into the libero jersey for this match. Hopen racked up 21 digs and 3 assists throughout the match.
Idaho took the first set, which was very even in score throughout, 26-24.
Idaho junior outside hitter Avery Housley finished off the first set with a kill.
Another close second set, Idaho pulled ahead at the end to finish 25-23. The second set ended with a tight point for point finish, with the Vandals pulling ahead at the end with another finishing kill by Housley.
The third set started out with the Vandals going up 9-2.
Idaho held a comfortable lead for the entirety of the third and Palmbush finished with the final kill to make the score 25-20, giving the Vandals the lead.
Although Idaho tore through the Vikings in the first match, Buchanan says there is still plenty of room for improvement.
“We know we have to clean up our game,” Buchanan said. “Did we make too many errors tonight? Yes. And when we play the top of our conference we are going to have to eliminate that.”
The Big Sky Conference is just beginning and the season is young, this first 3-0 victory against the Portland State University Vikings is a big confidence booster for the team, but there is a long way for the Vandals to go.
“We are still so early we can’t see where we will be,” Buchanan said. “For now, we are playing one game at a time and one practice at a time adjusting the things we see as we go.”
Idaho will play the Sacramento State Hornets 1 p.m. Saturday in Memorial Gym.
Connor Swersey can be reached at [email protected]