Oct. 12, 2009

Match Notes: Weber State, Seattle and Utah Valley

Pocatello, ID--The Bengals who are ranked sixth in the Big Sky have a busy week ahead of them with three matches. Idaho State (8-9, BSC 3-4) opens the week with a conference contest at Weber State (3-15, BSC 2-5) on Wednesday, October 14 at 7 p.m. in Swenson Gym. Then the Bengals return home to host two non-conference matches against Seattle on Friday and Utah Valley on Saturday at Reed Gym. Idaho State will host the Redhawks for the second time at 3 p.m. in Reed Gym while Saturday's competition against the Wolverines will begin at 7 p.m.

Live stats can be found at ISU's athletic website as well as a live broadcast aired by KISU 91.1 FM. In addition to the live stats and radio broadcast Idaho State's matches will also provide live video webcasts via B2TV which can be found at www.bigskytv.org. All links for the mentioned media can also be found on the right hand side of the volleyball web page on the ISU athletics website at www.isubengals.com. Live stats and video webcasts via B2TV can be found for Idaho State's contest at Weber State at weberwildcats.com.

Idaho State recorded its first home victory of the season with a straight set victory over Boise State. Head coach Teichert has led the Bengals to a 8-7 home record (.533). ISU played 11 matches on the road before returning to Reed Gym where the Bengals post an all-time record of 182-151 for a .547 winning percentage. The Bengals have struggled at home this season as they are 1-3 at Reed Gym this season. ISU has seven home game remaining including the two contests this week closing out the season with three at home.

The Bengals are ranked sixth in the conference with a 3-4 record in the Big Sky having defeated Northern Arizona, Montana and Montana State, all on the road. Idaho State will face off against number eighth ranked Weber State. Idaho State will end its first round of Big Sky Conference matches when they head to Ogden on Wednesday. ISU comes off a 3-0 sweep at home for the first victory at home in Reed Gym this season. ISU has posted three victories in their last four matches, three of which were conference competitions. The team is hitting a .193 attack percentage in conference while holding their opponents to a .202 attack percentage. The Bengals are still being out-blocked by their opponents 108-to-62 as ISU averages 1.32 and opponents averaging 2.32 blocks per set. Idaho State is ranked 193 in the RPI. Two Bengals have birthdays the day before the matchup against Weber State. Junior defensive specialist Jenna Proost and redshirt freshman Paige Hansen share October 13 for their birthday.

Senior Emily Waldron is 19 kills away from a career 1,000 placing her within reach of the Triple Crown 1,000 Career Record Club which consists of players who have recorded 1,000-career points, kills and digs. Waldron has already posted 1,127 points and 1,051 digs. Only four Bengals have achieved the Triple Crown. Libero Paige Palmer is on her way to recording 1,000-career digs as she posts 916 currently and needs just 84 more. She has had five 20-plus dig matches this season, including a season high 25 against Northern Colorado. Palmer is on a 12-match double-figure dig streak, which is the longest streak in conference play. Junior outside hitter Haylee Thompson has begun to be a consistent contributor to the Bengals as she has posted double-figures in kills in six of her last seven matches. She leads the team with a .550 (12- 1-20) attack percentage against Charleston Southern with a minimum of 12 kills.

The Wildcats are 3-15 for the season and 2-5 in conference play. Weber State has dropped its last three matches in four sets. Weber State is 0-8 in three set contests, 0-6 in four sets and 3-1 in five sets including a victory an upset over number one ranked Portland State. Weber State is hitting a .185 attack percentage and is led by Chelsea Bair who averages 3.57 kills per set. The Wildcats average 2.5 blocks per set and are led by Emily Jones who averages 1.45. Weber State is 1-2 at home in Swenson Gym this season. Weber State leads the series 48-33 however the Bengals captured the last meeting 3-1 on 10/30/08 at Reed Gym. The victory ended a four-match losing streak against the Wildcats where the Bengals owned a seven-match win streak that lasted four years from the first series of 2006 to 2003.

Seattle posts a 5-16 record for the season and are reclassifying to NCAA Division I. The Redhawks have had a hard schedule that includes competing against four ranked opponents this season including #4 Washington. Seattle is coming off a two-match losing streak against Portland State in three and UNLV in four. Seattle is led by Cristin Richards who averages 3.43 kills per game. She averages a .147 attack percentage. Emily Deleissegues averages 3.81 digs per set. The team hits just a .121 attack percentage but average 2.21 blocks per set. Idaho State will meet up with Seattle for the second time in history. The teams' last meeting was Halloween last year at Reed Gym where the Bengals defeated the Redhawks in five sets after a two set lead.

Utah Valley has made a seamless transition to Division I as they post a 12-6 record and are 4-1 in the Great West Conference as they are ranked second in the league. Utah Valley's loss to the New Jersey Institute of Technology in a five set contests ended a seven-match win streak. Utah Valley out hits its opponents with a .246 attack percentage and holds them to a .186 percentage. UVU is led by Kayli Broadbent who averages 4.10 kills per set with a .250 attack percentage. Camie Manwill averages 3.60 kills and 3.16 digs per set. Utah Valley leads the series 5-3 with the Wolverines already ending up on top this year with a four set win at the Shurian Family Activity Center. Last season Utah Valley began the year with a victory but the Bengals got redemption as they defeated UVU in four sets at home. Idaho State is 2-2 against the Wolverines at home.