Broncos open season by hosting Boise State Invitational

Boise State Invitational
Boise, Idaho (Bronco Gym) | Aug. 27-28, 2021

Friday, August 27
Session 1
Match 1 | 10 a.m. | Montana State vs. Long Beach State | Live Scoring | MW Network
Match 2 | 12 p.m. | Dixie State at Boise State | Live Scoring | MW Network

Session 2
Match 3 | 5:30 p.m. | Montana State vs. Dixie State | Live Scoring | MW Network
Match 4 | 7:30 p.m. | Long Beach State at Boise State | Live Scoring | MW Network

Saturday, August 28
Session 3
Match 5 | 12 p.m. | Dixie State vs. Long Bach State | Live Scoring | MW Network
Match 6 | 2:30 p.m. | Montana State at Boise State | Live Scoring | MW Network

THIS WEEK IN BRONCO VOLLEYBALL
WHAT'S HAPPENING: Boise State (0-0) opens the 2021 campaign at home, hosting the Boise State Invitational this Friday through Saturday in Bronco Gym. This year's field includes: Dixie State (0-0) from the Western Athletic Conference, Long Beach State (0-0) from the Big West Conference and Montana State (0-0) out of the Big Sky Conference.

There will be six matches divided up into three sessions with two sessions on Friday starting at 10 a.m. (Mountain) and 5:30 p.m., with the final session starting on Saturday at 12 p.m.

PREVIOUSLY VERSUS THE FIELD: Friday's encounter will be the first meeting between Dixie State and the Broncos. Boise State and Long Beach State have met eight times previously with the Blue and Orange earning their first victory in the series in five sets the last time they met in 2018. The Broncos and MSU Bobcats had a long history as conference rivals from the late 70's to mid 90's when they were conference rivals (Interstate League, Mountain West Athletic Conference and Big Sky) before Boise State broke away to join the Big West in 1996. The two programs have met only once since then (2004) with the Broncos holding a 24-8 advantage in the all-time series.

FOLLOW THE ACTION: If you cannot attend, 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.

ADMISSION: The price for attending the matches remains the same as in past years: $6 for adults, $4 for juniors (high school age and younger) and seniors 62 or older. Boise State students with valid ID cards and children two and under get in for free.

In addition, for the first time Boise State will be selling match tickets in advance for all volleyball home contests in 2021. Fans can purchase individual match tickets at the Boise State Ticket Office on the west side of Albertsons Stadium or via the internet at BroncoSports.com.

Seating is limited with the east side bleachers closed for the season do to COVID safety protocols that are in place for the 2021 campaign. So purchase your tickets early.

BRONCO SPORTS PASS: Once again Boise State will be offering the Bronco Sports Pass this year for $75, which will grant admission to all home regular season events during the 2021-22 season for: women's basketball, gymnastics, soccer, softball, volleyball and track & field. Note: The Bronco Sports Pass does not include any conference tournaments or postseason national tournaments hosted by Boise State.

Fans can purchase the Bronco Sports Pass at the Boise State Ticket Office on the west side of Albertsons Stadium or via the internet at BroncoSports.com.

SCOUTING BOISE STATE: Boise State opens the season picked to place second in the 2021 Mountain West Conference coaches poll. The Broncos are coming off an abbreviated spring 2021 campaign where they went 10-5 overall in MW action and placed second.

The Blue and Orange return five starters and the libero, as well as 11 members of the 2020-21 squad. In addition to the 11 returners, Boise State added six recruits — three transfers and three true freshmen — to this year's team.

Boise State is led by Spring 2021 All-MW and 2021 Fall Preseason All-MW honorees Lauren Ohlinger, Jessica Donahue and Danielle Boss, as well as, MW Newcomer of the Year Annie Kaminski. Donahue led the MW in blocks per set at 1.59 and hitting percentage at .376, she ranked fifth and 35th nationally, respectively. Meanwhile, Ohlinger ranked second in the MW for attacks per set (11.05) and third for kills (3.96) and points (4.48) per set.

As a team last spring, Boise State led the MW and was ranked fifth nationally for blocks per set (2.90). In addition, the Broncos finished ranked second in MW for hitting percentage (.231), opponents' hitting percentage (.175) and kills per set (13.00).

BOISE STATE IN SEASON OPENERS: Boise State is 22-20 in season openers since the 1979 campaign. They are 9-5 all-time when opening at home and 13-15 when opening on the road (away and neutral). The Broncos are 5-7 in openers under head coach Shawn Garus.

SCOUTING DIXIE STATE: The Trailblazers are in their second year of transition to NCAA DI. They enter their second season as members of the WAC picked to place fifth in the West Division of the 13-team conference.

Dixie State returns 13 players from the spring 2021 season, including five starters. Senior outside hitter and All-WAC First Team honoree Megan Treanor (171 kills, 168 assists, 127 digs, 34 blocks, 25 service aces) headlines the returners and was named to this fall's Preseason All-WAC team.

Last spring the Trailblazers placed fifth out of the nine teams in the conference, the WAC added four more schools this summer as they split into two divisions. DSU averaged 12.88 kills per set, 1.14 service aces, 16.56 digs and 1.93 blocks last season.

SCOUTING LONG BEACH STATE: The former conference rivals of the Broncos in the Big West Conference enter the year picked to finish fourth out of 11 teams in the league. The Big West did not compete last year during the COVID pandemic, meaning the Beach have not played competitively since the fall of 2019.

The last time Long Beach State took the court in 2019, the Beach went 12-17 overall and posted a 9-7 record in the Big West. They return eight letterwinners including junior outside hitter Kashauna Williams and sophomore outside hitter Katie Kennedy who were 2019 Big West All-Conference selections. They also have 14 freshmen on the roster to go with the returning veterans.

SCOUTING MONTANA STATE: The Bobcats enter the season selected to place fourth out of 11 teams in this year's Big Sky race after going 10-4 last spring to finish third.

MSU returns all (11) but two players from the spring 2021 season. Last spring the Bobcats averaged 12.8 kills per set, 1.3 service aces, 14.4 digs and 2.2 blocks.

FACTS & NOTES: What To Know About Bronco Volleyball
MW PRESEASON POLL: The Mountain West Preseason Coaches Poll projected Boise State to place second behind the UNLV Rebels and one spot ahead of Colorado State.

MW PRESEASON HONORS: The Mountain West coaches placed three Broncos on the 2021 Preseason All-MW Team, the most of any school. Lauren Ohlinger is on the team for the second-consecutive year, while Jessica Donahue and Dani Boss joined her this season.

SHAWN GARUS: Boise State head coach Shawn Garus, who is in his 13th season with the program, currently stands at 206-148, his career record stands at 314-268 entering his 21st year. 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.

BOSS RETURNS AT SETTER: Senior Danielle Boss returns at setter where she has started the previous three campaigns. She enters the season ranked ninth all-time and fifth in the rally scoring era for career assists at Boise State with 2,151, she had 521 in last spring's 15-match schedule to rank second in the MW.

DONAHUE FINISHED RANKED NATIONALLY: Jessica Donahue finished spring 2021 ranked fifth nationally and first in the MW for blocks per set at 1.59, she also led the conference in total blocks with 78 in 13 matches.

DONAHUE RETURNS AT MIDDLE BLOCKER: Senior Jessica Donahue returns to anchor the Boise State offense at the net where she led the MW in hitting percentage (.376), total blocks (78) and blocks per set (1.59) during the spring 2021 campaign.

DONAHUE LOOKING FOR BLOCKS RECORD: Jessica Donahue enters the season with a chance to break the school record for career blocks. She currently stands at 376, good for eight place all-time and needs to reach 493 for the record. She sits in third during the rally scoring era, 15 short of tying for second.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Danielle Boss

Jessica Donahue

Annie Kaminski

Lauren Ohlinger