Broncos Head to Reno For Two Versus the Wolf Pack

Friday, March 12

Reno, Nev.

7:00 P.M. MT

Boise State

Nevada

Photo by: Boise State University

3/11/2021 3:05:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

BSU MATCH NOTES (PDF)

By: Courtesy: Boise State Athletics

BOISE STATE (8-2) at NEVADA (3-7)
Reno, Nev. (Virginia Street Gym)

MATCH 11
DATE: Friday, March 12
TIME: 7 p.m. MT
FOLLOW THE ACTION: Live Stream (MW Network) | Live Scoring

MATCH 12
DATE: Saturday, March 13
TIME: 12 p.m. MT
FOLLOW THE ACTION: Live Stream (MW Network) | Live Scoring

FOLLOW THE BRONCOS

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WHAT'S NEXT: Boise State (8-2) is on the road this week for a two-match series at Nevada (3-7) in Reno this Friday and Saturday. The first contest will be at 7 p.m. (MT) on Friday followed by the rematch at 12 p.m. on Saturday, both matches will be in the Virginia Street Gym on the Nevada campus.

FOLLOW THE ACTION: COVID-19 safety measures are in place at Nevada which means fans need to check with the University of Nevada on their COVID protocols and whether fans will be allowed. The best way to follow this week's 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. The live stream is free of charge courtesy of the Mountain West Network.

SCOUTING NEVADA: The Wolf Pack are 3-7 overall and are coming off a pair of road defeats last week at San Jose State (3-1 and 3-0). They return six starters and seven letterwinners from 2019 when Nevada went 17-13 overall and 7-11 in league, they also added four newcomers.

They are led by Reka Monteleone who is averaging 3.0 kills per set, 10th in the MW. As a team, Nevada is averaging 11.46 kills (MW 9th) per set, 10.73 assists, 1.81 services aces, 11.92 digs and 2.73 blocks (MW 3rd / NCAA 17th).

SCOUTING BOISE STATE: Boise State enters the week at 8-2 overall, 6-0 at home and 2-2 on the road. The Broncos swept New Mexico 3-0 twice last week in Bronco Gym. Boise State went 18-12 overall in 2019 and 10-8 in conference to place fourth, it also advanced to the NIVC. The Blue and Orange return five starters and the libero, as well as 11 members of the 2019 squad. In addition to the 11 returners, Boise State added four recruits to this year's team.

Boise State is led by Preseason All-MW honoree Lauren Ohlinger who is averaging 4.11 kills per set (MW 1st), 11.53 attacks (MW 2nd / NCAA 43rd) and 4.51 points (MW 3rd). As a team, Boise State leads the MW and is ranked sixth nationally for blocks per set (3.01), is second in MW for hitting percentage (.247), fifth for opponents' hitting percentage (.182), second for kills per set (13.31), second for assists per set (12.17) and fourth for digs (15.03 dps).

MW PRESEASON POLL: The Mountain West Preseason Coaches Poll projected Boise State to place fourth and Nevada seventh.

THE BOISE STATE Vs. NEVADA SERIES: This rivalry enters its 62nd and 63rd meetings all-time — longest rivalry in the MW for Boise State — with Boise State leading 32-29 to date. The Broncos lead the series in matches played at Reno by a slim 16-15 margin; however, Nevada swept Boise State last year.

SHAWN GARUS RECORDS 200TH WIN: Boise State head coach Shawn Garus recorded his 200th win at Boise State when the Broncos swept Utah State (Feb. 12-13) to reach the milestone with the second victory. Garus, who is in his 12th season with the program, currently stands at 204-146, his career record stands at 312-265 in 20 years. Garus ranks second in total wins in program history, out of 10 coaches all-time. At Boise State, he has recorded nine winning seasons overall, including an active streak of six straight. He has three seasons (2010, 2015, 2016) with 20-plus wins.

WEEK FIVE RECAP: Boise State swept New Mexico 3-0 and 3-0 in Bronco Gym last weekend to improve to 8-2 overall. The Broncos had their best weekend hitting this year against the Lobos at .325 and .351. The Blue and Orange dominated both matches and were never really threatened.

On the weekend, Boise State hit .339 percent with 82 kills, 15 service aces and 18 blocks, while UNM countered at .0,53 percent hitting with 47 kills, six service aces and five blocks.

WEEK FIVE LEADERS: Kayly Pau was the only Bronco to reach double-digit kills in either match tallying 20 on the weekend, 10 per match. Lauren Ohlinger followed with 16 kills and 14 digs, while Annie Kaminski had 13 kills and four blocks.

BRONCO SEASON LEADERS: Lauren Ohlinger is a six-rotation player and leads the team overall with 148 kills (4.11 kps), 86 digs (2.39 dps) and 19 blocks (0.53 bps). Freshman Kayly Pau is second in kills with 94 (2.61 kps) to go with 22 blocks (0.61). Jessica Donahue is hitting .348 — seventh in MW — for 68 kills (2.27 kps) with 50 blocks, she leads the MW and ranks fifth nationally for blocks per set at 1.67 bps.

BOSS RANKED FIFTH FOR ASSISTS: Danielle Boss entered the season ranked eighth during the rally scoring era (2001 to present) at Boise State for career assists with 1,767, she had 1,113 as a sophomore in 2019. She has now moved into fifth with 1,966 overall.

BOSS DISTRIBUTING THE BALL: Danielle Boss enters the week ranked second in the Mountain West for assists per set 9.60, her total of 336 which leads the MW.

DONAHUE RANKED SEVENTH NATIONALLY: Jessica Donahue is currently ranked seventh nationally and first in the MW for blocks per set at 1.67, her current total is a MW-high 50.

DONAHUE ANCHORS THE BLUE WALL: Jessica Donahue started the season ranked fourth during the rally scoring era (2001 to present) at Boise State for career blocks with 298. She now sits at 348 overall heading into the UNM series, 21 short of third. The junior tallied 163 in 2019, third most all-time and six short of tying the school record for a season. The 163 blocks also led the MW and was ranked 11th nationally.

KAMINSKI LEADS THE MW IN HITTING: Redshirt-freshman Annie Kaminski moved into the Mountain West Conference lead for hitting percentage this week at .500, she just met the minimum for attempts per set to qualify.