Boise State Wins Idaho State Invite with 3-1 Victory Over Bengals

Saturday, September 1

Pocatello, Idaho

7:00 PM

Boise State

5-0

Idaho State

3-5

Boise State

Idaho State

Photo by: Idaho State Sports Information

Boise State Wins Idaho State Invite with 3-1 Victory Over Bengals

9/1/2018 11:01:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

Broncos remain undefeated on the season at 5-0.

By: Courtesy: Boise State Athletics

POCATELLO, Idaho (9/1/2018) - Boise State's young volleyball team continues to impress as the Broncos rolled to the Idaho State Invitational Championship with a four set 25-18, 25-17, 19-25, 25-17 victory over their host the ISU Bengals Saturday night in Pocatello.

The Broncos were benefactors of a balanced offense against the Bengals as Sabryn Roberts, Kiley Lewis and Jessica Donahue combined for 43 kills to lead Boise State to its fifth-straight win to open the season, matching the longest season-opening win streak since the 2004 squad also went 5-0.

S4 (BSU 2-1) | Hughes slams down the decisive kill to hand Broncos 25-17 set win and the match 3-1 ... Broncos remain undefeated at 5-0 and win the ISU Invite going 3-0.

GO BRONCOS!#BleedBlue @BroncoSports @MW_OlySports pic.twitter.com/e3mLZHq9py
— Boise State VB (@BroncoSportsVB) September 2, 2018

"This was the best we've played offensively to date," Boise State head coach Shawn Garus said. "I thought we had good production from a lot of people and Cassedi (Simon) did a really good job spreading the offense around. Sabryn (Roberts), Morgan (Hughes) and Jessica (Donahue) all had monster blocking performances that really set the tone early and helped us cruise to victory.

"Overall, I thought the team continued to improve with each match. We built 2-0 leads in all three matches even though we had to hold on to win two of them in five and four sets, but it's the sign of a young team with growing pains. We continue to improve and learn from our mistakes, and we will continue to get better."

Boise State had its best offensive match of the year against Idaho State hitting a season-high 26.9 percent for 56 kills, while ISU hit 17.3 percent for 44 kills. The Broncos also had a season-high 15 blocks as a team and 59 digs.

Roberts led the Broncos in kills for the fifth-straight match as she collected her fourth double-double of the season in five contests. The senior finished with 17 kills, 13 digs, seven blocks and 21.5 points, all team highs.

Sophomore outside hitter Kiley Lewis recorded her third-consecutive contest with double-figure kills tying for the second most against ISU with 13 while hitting 23 percent.

Donahue, a freshman from Roseville, Calif., was a force once more for Boise State tallying her fourth match of the year with double-digit kills finishing with 13 while hitting a career-high 63.2 percent (13-1-19). She continues to be dominate at the net recording six blocks on the night, her fifth-straight match with six or more and giving her an amazing 36 blocks (1.71 per set) on the year.

Senior Morgan Hughes remained steady for the Blue and Orange turning in a night with six kills, three service aces, seven digs and five blocks. She had 23 kills, 10 service aces and 18 blocks on the weekend.

Junior setter Cassedi Simon dished out a season-high 43 assists - one short of her career-high - in addition to 10 digs to collect her first double-double. She also had three kills and two blocks versus the Bengals.

Janell Walley started her second-straight match at libero tallying 10 digs, four assists and two service aces in the win.

Boise State opened strong taking the first two sets by a combined 15 points while hitting over 40 percent in both wins. In the first set Boise State broke open a 5-5 score with a 4-1 run and never trailed again in the period. The Broncos led by as many as 10 points at 22-12 before taking it by seven at 25-18. Boise State hit and impressive 42.4 percent in the period and committed only two hitting errors.

The Blue and Orange trailed only once in the second set at 3-2 before taking control with a 6-1 run to go up 8-4. Boise State extended its lead to eight points on several occasions while hitting 40.7 percent in the set as it coasted to the 25-17 victory over the Bengals.

After Boise State struggled hitting the ball in the third, influenced by seven Bengal blocks, and dropping the set to Idaho State, the Broncos regrouped in the fourth. ISU took an early advantage in the final set at 4-3 before the Broncos rallied on a 4-1 run to take the lead for good. The set remained close until midway through the period when Boise State surged stretching a 16-14 lead out to eight points up 22-14. The Broncos closed the set outscoring the Bengals 9-3 down the stretch to secure the set and claim the match at 3-1.

Boise State will take its undefeated 5-0 mark on the road this coming week when the Broncos close three-straight weeks on the road in Santa Clara, Calif., where they will face Santa Clara on Thursday in the battle of the Broncos, followed by an encounter with UC Davis on Friday.

IDAHO STATE ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
MVP - Jessica Donahue, Boise State
Abby Garrity, Idaho State
Sabryn Roberts, Boise State
Kaiulani Ahuna, UC Riverside
Janell Walley, Boise State
Yuliya Ushakova, UC Riverside