Broncos Down EWU to Win Boise State Classic

Saturday, September 10

Boise, Idaho

2:30 p.m. MT

Boise State

7-1,0-0Mountain West

Eastern Washington

3-5,0-0Big Sky

Eastern Wash.

Boise St.

9/10/2022 7:16:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

Boise State’s 3-1 victory over the Eagles on Saturday moved them to 3-0 on the weekend as they claimed the tournament title.

By: Courtesy: Boise State Athletics

BOISE, Idaho – Boise State's volleyball team capped an undefeated weekend with a 3-1 (24-26, 25-19, 25-15, 25-20) victory over Eastern Washington on Saturday to claim the Boise State Classic championship. The Broncos rallied from one set down to defeat the Eagles in Bronco Gym to finish the weekend at 3-0 and the week at 4-0 overall. The Blue and Orange have now won five straight contests to improve to 7-1 on the year.

Paige Bartsch and Lauren Ohlinger combined for 40 kills to lead Boise State versus the Eagles. As a team, the Blue and Orange hit a season-high .323 percent for 61 kills, while EWU was held to .193 percent hitting and 48 kills.

After Eastern Washington edged the Broncos 26-24 in set one, Boise State responded by claiming the next three periods. The Blue and Orange hit a match-high .448 percent in set two as it used a 6-1 run to move from 8-9 down to 15-10 up. The Broncos never trailed again in that frame.

In the third set, Boise State took control with a 10-1 run that erased a 4-6 deficit and pushed it to a 14-7 advantage. The Broncos then cruised to a 10-point victory 25-15 over the Eagles to take a 2-1 match lead.

Boise State never trailed in the final set and led by as many as seven midways through the period before settling for a five-point win at 25-20 to clinch the match.

QUOTABLES
Shawn Garus, head coach

On what the difference was in the second set. "I give Eastern Washington credit. They came out really aggressively and served tough. We weren't sharp early in the match, and it was hard to maintain any momentum. So, we kind of lost what we were building; then we had to battle back and turn it around. I'm glad that we did, but I give Eastern Washington a lot of credit for coming out strong."
On Bartsch and Ohlinger's great games and what they brought to the team today? "It was a good challenging match for us overall. For Lauren, they were serving her tough, and I think she responded quite well, even when they were going after her. So, if you're not doing great at one phase of the game, then you need to pick it up in another, and that's exactly what she did. Paige was just amazing. I feel like the kills are going to be there. She's going to block a lot of balls, get aces, and things like that; but when you see her scrambling in the back row like that, when you see her diving on the floor, you know, she's fully invested and trying to help her team win."
On the 3-0 weekend. "I think it's what we wanted. We want to be tough to beat at home, and we certainly were this week. We weren't perfect, and hopefully, we can have a good rest day tomorrow, then continue to practice hard to get a little bit better each day and be ready for the next opponent."

BRONCO LEADERS

Paige Bartsch recorded a career-high 23 kills while hitting .405 percent with one service ace, and two block assists to finish with a team-high 25.0 points…she also recorded her second career double-double adding 10 digs to her kill total.
Lauren Ohlinger hit .325 percent on her way to 17 kills; she also had two blocks – one solo – to finish with 18.5 points.
Ashley Hayden tallied a career-best 53 assists in the win.
Allison Casillas finished with a team and season-high 22 digs.

NOTABLES

Bartsch was named the tournament MVP after hitting .324 percent on the weekend and recording 49 kills, three service aces, 25 digs, 12 blocks and 58.0 points.
Ohlinger was named to the Boise State Classic All-Tournament Team finishing with 42 kills, four service aces, 23 digs, five blocks and 49.0 points.
Jordan Miller was also named to the all-tournament team after hitting a team-best .386 percent with 35 kills, three blocks and 37.0 points…she also led the team in kills in the first two contests versus Butler and Southern Utah.
The 42 kills on the week moved Ohlinger from 13th place on the school's career list to 10th.

WHAT'S NEXT

Boise State will head to Bozeman, Mont., this coming week to participate in the Bobcat Invitational versus Montana State, North Texas and 13th-ranked Washington.