Sept. 4, 2006

Idaho State Match Notes in PDF Format
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Idaho State looks to get back on track this week after going 1-4 last week. The Bengals return home to Pocatello to host Utah Valley State on Sept. 6 at Reed Gym. The match will open serve at 7 p.m. The trip home will be short lived as the Bengals head to New Mexico for the Las Cruces Hilton Tournament Sept. 8-9.

About the Bengals
Idaho State holds a 3-5 overall record after losing four matches last week. The Bengals went 1-4 last week, defeating Montana-Western before dropping matches to Boise State, Murray State, Appalachian State, and North Florida last week. Jessica Gurney leads the Bengal attack with a team-high 78 kills on the season--an averaged of 3.00 per game. Gurney also holds a team-best .312 attack percentage. Freshman Emily Waldron ranks second on the team in kills with 67 (2.48 kpg.). Freshman setter Christine Collette leads the Bengal offense with 262 assists (10.08 per game) and a team-high 12 service aces. Defensively, Bri Beal fronts the team with 123 digs (4.92 per game), while Karli Maughan leads ISU with 20 blocks. As a team, Idaho State averages 13.61 kills with a .155 attack percentage, while holding opponents to 14.18 kills and a .186 attack mark. The Bengals average 18.39 digs and 12.00 assists per game.

Utah Valley State
The Wolverines are NCAA Division I member with independent status. The team is 4-3 on the season after winning three straight to win the Central Florida Fall Classic last week in Orlando, Florida. The Wolverines defeated Furman, Samford, and Central Florida to claim the title. Utah Valley did start out last week with a 3-0 loss to Weber State before winning the three matches in Florida. Sophomore outside hitter Camie Manwill leads the Wolverine attack with 92 kills on the season, an average of 3.83 per game. Junior libero Chelsea Baugh leads the defensive effort with 127 digs this season, while senior setter Lacee Koelliker sets up the offense, averaging 9.37 assists per game. As a team, Utah Valley averages 13.85 kills while holding opponents to a 14.11 average. The Wolverines average a .188 attack mark while allowing opponents a .193 percentage. The team averages 16.11 digs and 11.59 assists per game.

Utah Valley State-ISU Series Info
Idaho State and Utah Valley State meet for just the third time on Wednesday night. The Bengals hold a 2-0 all-time lead over the Wolverines. The Bengals defeated Utah Valley 3-2 last year in Orem, Utah and 3-0 on Sept. 21, 2004 in Pocatello.

Havens Named to North Florida Labor Day Classic All-Tournament Team
Senior outside hitter Nikki Havens' performance at the North Florida Labor Day Classic earned her All-Tournament honors last week. Havens recorded 24 kills, 12 digs, one block, and two assists in nine games and three matches for ISU at the tournament. She collected a season-high 13 kills against North Florida at the tourney.

The Young and the Restless
Idaho State's lineup features four freshman and six sophomores with just one junior and three seniors. The Bengals have one of the youngest lineups in the Big Sky Conference this season. The Bengals are starting two freshmen and two sophomores in its rotation.

On the Road Again....
10 of Idaho State's first 12 matches will have taken place on the road away from the "friendly confines" of Reed Gym. The Bengals have just two preseason matches at home before beginning Big Sky play. Idaho State has already logged 8,366.40 travel miles this year, and by the time the team returns home from this weekend's trip to Las Cruces, ISU will have traveled 10,380.56 miles before opening Big Sky play.

Idaho State at the Super 8 Chippewa Classic
The Bengals went 2-1 last week at the Super 8 Chippewa Classic in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. ISU defeated Wisconsin-Green Bay 3-2 and Indiana State 3-0. ISU then lost the championship match to host Central Michigan 3-0.

Collette and Gurney Receive All-Tourney Honors at Michigan Tournament
Christine Collette and Jessica Gurney received Super 8 Chippewa Classic All-Tournament honors after helping Idaho State to a 2-1 record. Collette recorded 96 assists and 36 digs through the three matches. Gurney led the team with 34 kills, an average of 3.09 a game. Gurney also had four blocks at the tournament.

More on Idaho State
Idaho State returns nine letterwinners from a year ago, making the Bengals one of the most experienced clubs in the Big Sky. However, five of those players are sophomores, and combined with a recruiting class that feature a sophomore and four freshmen, that also makes Idaho State one of the youngest teams in the conference. An added benefit of the deep roster is the depth it will provide the Bengals. Welch has three players he can use at setter, and at least six different players available for hitting, blocking and defensive roles. The most celebrated of Idaho State's nine returners is three-time All-Big Sky Conference outside hitter Nikki Havens. The only player to see action in all 111 games last season, Havens recorded 444 kills, an average of four per game, earning her All-Big Sky Honorable Mention honors. Havens was a second-team pick in 2004 and an honorable mention selection in 2003. Idaho State's other two seniors are outside hitters Bri Beal and Karli Maughan. Maughan was fifth on the team with 131 kills, an average on 1.24 per game, while Beal was fourth on the squad with 249 digs. The only other upperclassman on the squad is junior outside hitter Katie Hurst, who played in all but one of Idaho State's games, recording 349 digs and 30 kills. Five sophomores make up the bulk of the Bengals' experience, three of whom saw considerable playing time a year ago. Setter Amanda Bevens was pressed into action due to Bushman's injury and rose to the challenge, recording 7.7 assists per game and adding 109 kills. Middle blockers Zoe Beltz and Jessica Gurney did a majority of the work at the net. Beltz was third on the team with 157 kills and Gurney led the Bengals with 90 blocks. Blakely Peppinger played in 49 games for Idaho State, while Paige Palmer got on the court for 23 games. The Bengals also welcome in a five-person recruiting class, including three eastern Idaho products and two Pocatello natives. Kolay Mickelsen, a 6-1 middle blocker from Highland High School, led the Rams in kills, blocks and digs last season and earned first team All-Region honors.

Bengals Ranked Sixth in Big Sky Preseason Coaches Poll
Idaho State volleyball was predicted to finish sixth in the Big Sky Conference this upcoming season, according to a preseason coaches poll released Thursday by the league office. Sacramento State received 64 points and eight first place votes to top the poll. Eastern Washington received the second spot with 52 points, while Portland State received the only other first place vote and finished with 50 points for third. Montana State was picked fourth with 39 points, Weber State was selected fifth with 35 points, while Idaho State was selected sixth with 25 points. Montana received 24 points for the seventh position, newcomer Northern Colorado was picked eighth with 19 points, and Northern Arizona was picked ninth and received 16 points.