Broncos Sweep Southern Utah to Win Thunderbird Classic

Saturday, September 7

Cedar City, Utah

1:00 p.m. (MT)

Boise State

4-2

Southern Utah

5-1

Boise State

Southern Utah

Broncos Sweep Southern Utah to Win Thunderbird Classic

9/7/2019 4:50:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

Walley named MVP, Duffy makes all-tournament team.

By: Courtesy: Boise State Athletics

CEDAR CITY, Utah - Janell Walley hit 57.1 percent to lead Boise State's offensive attack Saturday afternoon as the Broncos hit a season-high 44.9 percent on their way to a sweep, 3-0 (25-20, 25-20, 25-14), over previously undefeated Southern Utah (5-1). The win gave Boise State the Thunderbird Classic championship and extended its win streak to four following a pair of opening season losses to top-16 ranked opponents.

IT'S A SWEEP! Boise State takes set three 25-14 to win match 3-0 over previously undefeated Southern Utah for Thunderbird Classic title! Broncos have won 4 straight and are 4-2 overall!

GO BRONCOS! #BleedBlue @BroncoSports @BoiseStateLive @MW_OlySports pic.twitter.com/XYYQeNhHaB
— Boise State VB (@BroncoSportsVB) September 7, 2019

Walley led the team with 18 kills while hitting a season-high 57.1 percent, she also had four blocks to end the match with 20.5 points. The senior had an outstanding weekend leading the Broncos with 53 kills (4.42 kps), four service aces, 30 digs and 14 blocks, team highs for hitting percentage, kills and blocks. In addition, she had one double-double in the comeback win over Saint Mary's and had three contests with double-digit kills to earn her all-tournament and Thunderbird Classic MVP honors.

Shae Duffy was named to the all-tournament team after playing a big role in Boise State's success at Cedar City. She was the only other Bronco to reach double-digit kills against the Thunderbirds tallying 11 while hitting a career-high 62.5 percent. On the weekend, she recorded three-straight matches in double-figure kills, including a career-high 15 in win over Middle Tennessee.

IT'S A SWEEP! Boise State takes set three 25-14 to win match 3-0 over previously undefeated Southern Utah for Thunderbird Classic title! Broncos have won 4 straight and are 4-2 overall!

GO BRONCOS! #BleedBlue @BroncoSports @BoiseStateLive @MW_OlySports pic.twitter.com/XYYQeNhHaB
— Boise State VB (@BroncoSportsVB) September 7, 2019

Boise State started slow against Southern Utah in sets one and two as it found itself in holes early, 5-0 in set one and 4-0 in set two. However, once the Broncos warmed up they were unstoppable the rest of the way.

The Blue and Orange trailed by six, 9-3, in set one and came back to take the lead for the first time at 14-13 on a Duffy kill. Boise State then slowly pulled away from the T-birds for a five-point win capped by Duffy and Jessica Donahue kills, with an Olivia Bradley service ace to clinch it 25-20.

The second set saw the Broncos trail for two-thirds of the period before they used a 3-0 run — powered by two Kiley Lewis kills — to go from 16-14 down to 17-16 up. They then pulled away for another five-point win, 25-20.

The final set was all Boise State as it raced out to an 11-1 lead. The Broncos out hit SUU 46.2 percent to 3.3 percent in the third set to complete the sweep.

Next up for Boise State is a trip to Columbia, Mo., to participate in the Mizzou Invite hosted by the Missouri Tigers who are just outside the top-25 in the AVCA national poll.

OTHER NOTABLES

With the Thunderbird Classic title on Saturday, Boise State won its third nonconference tournament in the last two years.
Walley was named to her second all-tournament team in two weeks.
Walley recorded her third-straight double-digit kill match of the tournament against SUU and the fifth of the season.
Walley hit 40 percent or better in all three matches of the Thunderbird Classic, including a season-high 57.1 on Saturday versus SUU.
Danielle Boss, sophomore setter, was the only Bronco to record three double-doubles at Cedar City, including one versus Southern Utah on 36 assists and 10 digs to give her four on the year and seven in her career.
Duffy was the only other Bronco to join Walley with three matches in double-digit kills at the Thunderbird Classic giving her an active four-match streak with 10-plus kills, which is second behind Walley's current five-match streak.
Sophomore Olivia Bradley earned her first career start at Boise State on Saturday making her the 11th Bronco to earn at least one start this season.