Boise State opens MW Championship against San Jose State

MOUNTAIN WEST CHAMPIONSHIP
Las Vegas, Nev. | Cox Pavilion (UNLV)
Nov. 24-26, 2021

Wednesday, Nov. 24 | Opening Round

2 p.m. (MT) | No. 6 Boise State vs. No. 3 San Jose State | Live Scoring | MW Network

Thursday, Nov. 13 | Semifinal (If win on Wednesday)

2 p.m. | No. 6 Boise State vs. No. 2 Utah State | Live Scoring | MW Network

THIS WEEK IN BRONCO VOLLEYBALL
WHAT'S HAPPENING: This week Boise State is off to the Mountain West Conference Volleyball Championship at Las Vegas, Nov. 24-26. The Broncos take a 21-10 overall record and 10-8 league mark, sixth-place, into the tournament where they will open with No. 3 seed San Jose State (19-9, 13-5 MW) at 2 p.m. (Mountain) on Wednesday in Cox Pavilion on the UNLV campus. If Boise State is successful, it would face No. 2 seed Utah State (22-8, 14-4 MW) in a semifinal at 2 p.m. (MT) on Thursday with the championship match scheduled for 2 p.m. Friday afternoon.

MOUNTAIN WEST CHAMPIONSHIP: This is the first MW Volleyball Championship since the 2011 season, the league discontinued it after that. The tournament returns this year featuring the top-six teams in the regular season standings in a single elimination format. The top two seeds No. 1 Colorado State and No. 2 Utah State, the regular-season co-champions, received first round byes. The Championship was originally scheduled to return last year but was postponed because of the COVID pandemic.

BOISE STATE IN THE MOUNTAIN WEST CHAMPIONSHIP: This will be the Broncos' second trip to the MW Championship tournament. They competed at the 2011 tournament at Albuquerque, N.M., in their first year as members of the conference. Boise State faced TCU in the first round where it lost 3-0 to the Horned Frogs.

BOISE STATE IN LEAGUE TOURNAMENTS: This will be the 22nd conference tournament that Boise State has qualified for since 1980. The Broncos have never won a tournament title and have an overall record of 7-23 in such events. Their last victory came in the 2009 Western Athletic Conference tournament at Las Vegas when they defeated Idaho 3-1 in the first round. Boise State has never met either San Jose State or Utah State in a previous league championship tournament.

SCOUTING BOISE STATE: The Broncos enter the tournament coming off a home split defeating Wyoming (3-0) before falling to Colorado State (3-1). Through 31 matches, Boise State is led by Lauren Ohlinger who has recorded team highs for kills (405), service aces (48) and points (486.0). The junior outside hitter leads the MW for kills, is ranked 19th nationally for total service aces (2nd MW) and 39th in total points (2nd MW). Alyssa Wissinger is next with 178 kills and 134 blocks (1st MW / 19th NCAA). The Broncos closed the regular season going 6-2 down the stretch.

As a team, Boise State hits .262 percent (2nd MW / 30th NCAA) and holds opponents to .195 percent (4th MW). The Broncos average 12.59 kills per set (6th MW), 2.84 blocks (1st MW / 5th NCAA) and 1.83 service aces (3rd MW / 19th NCAA). Boise State leads the MW and the NCAA for total blocks (326.5), and is first in the MW and seventh in NCAA for total service aces (211).

SCOUTING SAN JOSE STATE: The Spartans finished the regular season at 19-9 overall and 13-5 in MW play, third-place. They are coming off a road split last week falling 3-0 at UNLV, then defeated San Diego State 3-0. They closed the year going 10-2 down the stretch. Haylee Nelson leads SJSU with 354 kills followed by Latahevai Lousi with 256. As a team, San Jose State hits .205 percent (8th MW) while their opponents have hit .202 (5th MW).

THE SAN JOSE STATE SERIES: This will be the third meeting of the year between the Broncos and Spartans with San Jose State winning the previous two 3-2 in Boise (Sept. 30), then 3-1 in San Jose (Nov. 13). Boise State leads the all-time series 21-20 and leads the conference series 19-17 which spans two different leagues (Western Athletic (2001-10) and Mountain West), the Broncos lead 14-4 in MW play.

SCOUTING UTAH STATE: Utah State is one of two MW regular season co-champions finishing the year at 22-8 and 14-4 in league. The Aggies are coming into the tournament off a home sweep over Colorado State (3-1) and Wyoming (3-2). The Aggies closed the season going 11-2. They are led by Kennedi Boyd who is hitting a league-best .423 with 168 kills, while Tatum Stall has a team-high 346 kills. As a team, USU hits .238 percent (4th MW) while their opponents have hit .188 percent (2nd MW).

THE UTAH STATE SERIES: Boise State leads the all-time series by a 28-19 margin and leads the MW series 11-5. The overall conference series favors the Broncos 20-19 stretching three conferences (Big West (1996-2000), Western Athletic (2005-10) and the Mountain West). Utah State won the lone meeting this fall 3-2 in Boise (Oct. 19).

FOLLOW THE ACTION: If you cannot attend, the best way to follow the action is by going to the volleyball schedule on BroncoSports.com and clicking on the appropriate "Live Scoring" and/or "Live Stream" links for the particular match you want to follow. All Mountain West tournament contests will be live streamed free of charge courtesy of the Mountain West Network.

NOTES: WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT BRONCO VOLLEYBALL
WINNING SEASON: At 21-10, Boise State is guaranteed its seventh-consecutive winning season and 10th during the 13-year tenure of head coach Shawn Garus.

WELCOME TO THE BLOCK PARTY: The Broncos' frontline has recorded double-digit team blocks in 20 of 31 contests to date with a high of 18 against San Jose State (Sept. 30), tied for 12th all-time and tied for third during the rally scoring era (RSE).

THE BLUE WALL LEADS THE NATION: The Broncos lead the Mountain West and the nation in total blocks with 326.5 (Maryland is second with 317.5). The Blue Wall also leads the MW and is fifth in the NCAA for blocks per set at 2.84.

BOSS AT SETTER: Senior Danielle Boss entered the season ranked ninth all-time and fifth in the rally scoring era (RSE) for career assists at Boise State with 2,151. She has recorded 1,030 to move into sixth place overall and third in RSE with 3,181.

WISSINGER LEADS MW AND NATIONALLY RANKED FOR BLOCKS: Alyssa Wissinger is ranked first in the Mountain West and 12th in NCAA for blocks per set at 1.37, she also leads the MW and is 19th nationally for total blocks with 134.

BOSS LEADS LEAGUE IN ASSISTS: Dani Boss is ranked first in the MW for total assists with 1,030 and is second for assists per set at 10.10.

OHLINGER NATIONALLY RANKED: Lauren Ohlinger is ranked 19th in the NCAA for total service aces (49), 46th nationally for service aces per set (0.42) and 39th for total points (486.0).

DONAHUE LOOKING FOR OVERALL BLOCKS RECORD: Jessica Donahue entered the season with a chance to break the school record for career blocks. She currently stands at 438 which is good for fourth place all-time, she needs to reach 493 for the record.

Boise State opens MW Championship against San Jose State

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Players Mentioned

Danielle Boss

Jessica Donahue

Lauren Ohlinger

Boise State opens MW Championship against San Jose State

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Danielle Boss

Jessica Donahue

Lauren Ohlinger

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