Broncos Sweep UNI to Extend Win Streak to Six

Saturday, September 14

Columbia, Mo.

11 a.m. (MT)

Boise State

Northern Iowa

9/14/2019 3:41:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score Final Box (pdf)

Duffy, Donahue and Walley combine for 35 kills to lead Boise State to win.

By: Courtesy: Boise State Athletics

COLUMBIA, Mo. - Boise State used a balanced offense Saturday to defeat Missouri Valley Conference powerhouse Northern Iowa in three 25-20, 25-19, 25-23 on the second day of the Mizzou Invitational. Shae Duffy led the Broncos with a team-high 14 kills, while Jessica Donahue and Janell Walley added 11 and 10, respectively.

Jessica Donahue's 11th kill brings set three (25-23) and the match home as Broncos sweep Missouri Valley Conference powerhouse Northern Iowa!

Broncos have won 6 straight to move to 6-2 overall!#BleedBlue @BroncoSports @BoiseStateLive @MW_OlySports pic.twitter.com/zNWYfRELwb
— Boise State VB (@BroncoSportsVB) September 14, 2019

The win was big for Boise State as the Broncos extended their win streak to six straight. The victory came against UNI, a team that is a regular in the NCAA tournament having advanced to the championship event each of the last four years and 15 times since 2000.

"I'm so proud of our team effort this morning," said head coach Shawn Garus. "Shae Duffy was ripping balls on the outside and made a big impact. Allie Casillas played a great match at libero, served tough, controlled serve receive and handled everything hit her way. Jessica Donahue was on fire from start to finish. Dani Boss was on point with her decision making and got every hitter involved. Once again, Janelle Walley did whatever her team needed to get the win. Today it was our energy that kept the team playing at a high level throughout the match."

All three sets were hard fought with Boise State starting the first and third slow. Down 6-1 to open the match, the Broncos regrouped and rallied to tie the first set at 10, then used a 10-2 run to claim momentum up 20-12. The Panthers attempted to rally, but came up short as the Blue and Orange held on for the 25-20 win.

The second period saw Boise State claim and early lead, then maintained it to take a six-point, 25-19, win.

Up two sets to none, The Broncos let up on the gas early in the third finding themselves down nine points early at 11-2 and 12-3. Down nine at 12-3, Boise State stormed back on a 17-4 run to go up 20-16.

It was the Duffy, Donahue and Walley show during the run as they combined for 14 of the points. Sophomore Shae Duffy started the run with a kill and a service ace, then closed the run with five of the last six points on kills. Donahue was big in the middle having a hand in five straight Bronco points. Meanwhile, Walley had four points spread throughout.

Before it was over, UNI tried to rally pulling within one point twice at 22-21 and 24-23. But that was as close as the Panthers would get as Donahue put the match away with her 11th kill of the contest to give Boise State the 25-23 set victory and complete the 3-0 sweep.

On the day, Boise State hit the ball well in the match finishing at 32.5 percent while holding UNI to 14.6, it marks the second-straight contest that the Broncos have held their opponent to below 15 percent.

Walley recorded her second double-double of the weekend and fourth of the year 10 kills and 12 digs. Duffy led the team with 14 kills, one service ace and three block assists to finish with a team-high 16.5 points. Donahue had 11 kills and team-high six blocks for 14.5 points.

Next up, Boise State will face undefeated and 21st-ranked Missouri Sunday morning at 11 a.m. (MT) to close their Mizzou Invitational action.

OTHER NOTABLES

The win was Boise State's sixth-straight after dropping the first two contests to top-16 ranked teams.
Walley has recorded back-to-back double-doubles in Missouri giving her four on the year and a team-high 12 in her career.
Walley has tallied double-digit kills in seven-consecutive matches.
Three Broncos hit 38.9 percent or better today, Duffy led at 42.3, Donahue was at 39.1, with Walley at 38.9 ... that snaps Walley's streak of four straight matches hitting above 40 percent.
Danielle Boss also saw her streak of five-consecutive double-doubles come to an end as she finished with a team-high 38 assists with eight digs.
Freshman Allison Casillas tallied a team-high 17 digs in the win.
Boise State's Blue Wall continues to impact matches as the Broncos have recorded more blocks than the opponents in six of the eight contests, in addition to one tie ... today the Blue and Orange out blocked UNI 10-to-5.
Boise State is now 2-1 all-time versus UNI and 4-2 versus the current membership of the MVC all-time.