Broncos Win Boise State Classic with Sweep of UC Irvine

Saturday, September 21

Boise, Idaho

2:00 p.m. (MT)

Boise State

7-3

UC Irvine

3-8

UC Irvine

Boise St.

Photo by: Boise State University

Broncos Win Boise State Classic with Sweep of UC Irvine

9/21/2019 5:49:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score Final Box (pdf)

Walley led Broncos to win over the Anteaters with 12 kills while hitting 33.3 percent.

By: Courtesy: Boise State Athletics

BOISE, Idaho - Janell Walley tallied 12 kills Saturday afternoon to lead the Broncos to a sweep (25-23, 30-28, 25-10) over UC Irvine and the championship of the Boise State Classic. After a tight opening two sets, Boise State exploded in the third to claim the win over UCI.

This marks the second tournament title for the Blue and Orange this fall who also won the Thunderbird Classic in Cedar City, Utah, in week two. The win improves the Broncos record to 8-3 overall as they prepare for the opening of conference play this Tuesday night at Utah State.

Broncos sweep!

Match Leaders
Kills - Janell Walley 12
Assists - Danielle Boss 35
Digs - Allison Casillas 14
Blocks - Jessica Donahue 6#BleedBlue pic.twitter.com/q2yXxf8NvF
— Boise State VB (@BroncoSportsVB) September 21, 2019

"The team found a way to win when they weren't playing their best," said Boise State head coach Shawn Garus. "We were fighting ourselves, while fighting UC Irvine for two sets, and then once we got out of our own way we showed what we are capable of doing. I'm excited about what we can accomplish. If we keep getting better and stay hungry I think we'll win a lot of games in the Mountain West and maybe then poke our heads up in November to see where we're at in the standings."

Walley led the Broncos with her eighth match in double-figure kills with 12 while hitting 33.3 percent, she added two service aces, seven digs and four blocks to finish with a team-high 16.5 points.

"Walley is just a great all-around player," Garus said. "It's rare that she is the biggest kid in the gym or the hardest hitter, but she's a player that just does everything for us. What that's doing for us right now is it's allowing the younger players to just be comfortable with their role because they know Walley is going to do a lot to help them...She walks the walk. She does the right things off the court, makes good decisions, gets good grades. So if freshmen are looking around for a role-model, there's Walley doing what she needs to do."

Shae Duffy added nine kills followed by Lauren Ohlinger and Jessica Donahue with eight each.

Defensively, Allison Casillas tallied a team-high 14 digs, followed by Ohlinger with 12. At the net, Donahue led the team with six block assists, while Danielle Boss was close behind with five. Boss also had a team-high 35 assists.

The first set was close throughout with the Broncos hitting 20 percent to UCI's 18.8 percent. Boise State trailed 20-17 late when it rallied to closed the set out on a 8-3 run.

They second period went to extra points before it was done. Down one at 16-15 to the Anteaters, the Broncos rallied with two straight points to take the lead at 17-16 and never trailed again. However, they would be tied by UCI seven times down the stretch before putting the set away on a Walley kill to get the Broncos to set point, then won it 30-28 on a UCI attack error.

The third set was ALL Boise State as the Broncos opened up on an 8-2 run and cruised to the victory hitting 44.8 percent in the set while holding the Anteaters to .000 percent. They steadily increased their lead to double-digits then ended up winning it by 15 points.

OTHER NOTABLES

Boise State freshman Lauren Ohlinger was named Boise State Classic MVP, while Janell Walley, Jessica Donahue and Danielle Boss made the all-tournament team.
Boise State is now 8-3 overall, the three loses were to nationally-ranked teams ... the Broncos have won two straight.
The Broncos hit 24.5 percent in the match as a team and held UCI to a Boise State season-low for an opponent of 8.1 percent.
Boise State has held five opponents to 16 percent hitting or lower, including four of its last five opponents.
Donahue has five matches with five or more blocks, a team-high ... she also has a team-high 44 blocks on the season.
Walley has hit 30 percent or better in seven matches.
Coach Garus is now six wins short of 300 career victories.
Boise State is now 8-4 all-time versus UC Irvine.