With 12 freshmen, a new head coach and four tournaments on the road, the Idaho Vandals volleyball team had a difficult start to their season.
After winning 2/11 sets at the Youngstown State Tournament, 0/9 sets at the Grand Canyon University Classic, and 0/9 sets at the Jacksonville University Tournament, Idaho was looking for a win before starting conference play.
Their first game at the University of Wyoming Invite was against Morehead State. Morehead came into this game 3-5.
The first set was a close one, with Idaho barely squeaking out 25-22. Both teams had 31 attempts, but the Vandals had more kills and less errors. Morehead had 11 kills and nine errors to Idaho’s 15 kills and five errors.
The second set was better for the Vandals as they took it 25-17. They had nine kills to Morehead’s 13, but only one error to Morehead’s 11. The Vandals also had fewer total attempts than the Eagles, 25-36.
The final set ended with the exact same score. Both teams had 14 kills, the Eagles had 11 errors to Idaho’s two, but they had 40 total attempts to Idaho’s 29.
Freshman outside hitter Taryn Vrieling led the team in kills and aces with 11 and one. Freshman setter Kate Doorn led in assists with 29. Freshman middle hitter Madison Wilson led in blocks with six. The effort on both offense and defense from these players helped the Vandals put their first mark in the win column.
Their next game would come just under four hours later against Wyoming, a team that beat Idaho 3-0 at the GCU Classic. This time around, the Vandals brought a fight.
The first set went to Wyoming quite handedly as they won 25-16. They out-killed Idaho 18-8 and had 35 total attempts to Idaho’s 30, but both teams ended the set with four errors.
The second set was much closer, but this time Idaho took it 25-23. They had 14 kills to Wyoming’s 12, five errors to Wyoming’s six and 29 total attempts to Wyoming’s 30.
The third set was also close, but the Vandals won it 25-22. Idaho had 14 kills to Wyoming’s 17, four errors to Wyoming’s nine and 34 total attempts to the Cowgirls’ 45. All that was left between Idaho and winning the revenge game was one set.
Both teams had almost identical stat lines in the fourth. They both had 17 kills and four errors, but Idaho had 35 total attempts while Wyoming had 34. The final set went down to the wire, but the Vandals were able to pull off their second win of the day, and the season, 25-23.
One of the four non-first year students on the team, graduate student outside hitter Allison Munday, led the Vandals in kills with 15. Doorn once again led in assists, this time with 41.
The Vandals final non-conference game was at 9 a.m. Saturday against Nicholls State.
Idaho won the first set 25-18 with 13 kills, five errors and 25 total attempts. Nicholls State had six kills, nine errors and 29 total attempts.
The second set was better for the Colonels, but the Vandals still came out on top, winning the set 25-21. Idaho had 14 kills, six errors and 30 total attempts. The Colonels had 10 kills, six errors and 27 total attempts.
In the third set, the Vandals completed the sweep. It took an extra two serves, but Idaho finished the tournament 3-0 on a 27-25 third set win. They had 16 kills, 12 errors and 45 total attempts. Nicholls State had 11 kills, nine errors and 46 total attempts. Freshman outside hitter Olivia Gloeckner led the team in kills with 12. Another Vandal returner, redshirt junior middle blocker Travel Morris, led in blocks with five. Doorn once again led in assists with 38.
It was a great weekend for the Vandals as they finally were able to put some numbers in the win column. They now stand at 3-9 going into conference play. They’ll start in-conference play against 4-8 Sacramento State, who are ranked one spot above Idaho, in Memorial Gym at 6 p.m. on Sept. 22.
James Taurman-Aldrich can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @jamesaldrich25