Broncos Host Three-Match Homestand

Thursday, October 5

Boise, Idaho

7 p.m. MT

Boise State

Fresno State

10/4/2023 12:47:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

By: Courtesy: Boise State Athletics

Week Three of Conference Play

The Broncos (7-7, 3-1 MW) continue Mountain West play at home with a three-match homestand starting with Fresno State at 7 p.m. (Mountain) on Thursday, followed by Nevada at noon on Saturday. The homestand will conclude with an encounter versus Utah State next Tuesday at 7 p.m., all matches will be played in Bronco Gym.
This week's action will feature some of the top offensive players in the MW. Boise State's Paige Bartsch leading the league and ranked fourth nationally in kills per set at 5.15 on the year. Fresno State is led by Addison Haluska, averaging 3.44 kps to rank fifth in the conference. Nevada's Sia Liilii is seventh at 3.27 kps, and USU's Shelby Capllonch is ninth at 3.13 kps.
On Tuesday, Boise State will face a big test when they host one of the three teams currently tied with the Broncos for first at 3-1 in the MW standings in the Utah State Aggies.

All matches will feature live scoring on StatBroadcast.com and a live stream on the Mountain West Network. Check the volleyball schedule page on BroncoSports.com for all the URLs/links.

Boise State brings a 7-7 overall mark and a 3-1 record in conference, tied for first, into this week's three-match homestand.
The Broncos have won five of their last six contests and are coming off a road split last week, rallying to defeat Air Force 3-2, then falling 3-1 at New Mexico to snap a five-match wins streak.
Last week, Boise State was led by junior outside hitter Paige Bartsch, who combined for 46 kills, four service aces, 23 digs, five blocks and 53.5 points; she tallied 20-plus kills in both contests. Noelani Helm recorded back-to-back double-doubles and combined for 84 assists and 23 digs.
The Broncos return four starters from 2022 in Bartsch (Jr., OPP), Annie Kaminski (Sr., MB), Jordan Miller (Jr., OH), Chey Day (Sr., MB).
Bartsch is a 2023 Preseason All-Mountain West selection and was a 2022 All-MW honoree and the 2021 MW Freshman of the Year, while Kaminski was a 2022 All-MW Honorable Mention and the spring 2021 MW Newcomer of the Year.
Boise State returns nine student-athletes from the 2022 campaign while adding seven newcomers, three transfers and four freshmen.
Transfer transfers Noelani Helm (Gr., S, Portland) and Breanna Mitchell (So., L, CSUN) are key newcomers.
The Broncos were picked by the MW coaches to place sixth out of 11 teams in the 2023 league race.

Boise State's Paige Bartsch is the only player in the nation to be ranked in the top three for service aces per set (2nd at 0.70), kills per set (3rd at 5.15), points per set (2nd at 6.11), total service aces (2nd at 32) and total points (2nd at 330.0).
She is also ranked fourth nationally for total kills (278) and fifth in attacks per set (12.61).
She leads the MW in all seven categories.

Middle blocker Annie Kaminski is 10th in the MW for hitting percentage at .328; she is fourth during league play at .333 percent.
Setter Noelani Helm is ranked fifth in the conference for assists per set at 8.28 and total assists with 447.
Sophomore libero Breanna Mitchell is fourth in the MW for digs per set at 3.98; she is seventh for total digs with 215.

The Bulldogs enter the weekend at 8-7 overall and 2-2 in the league, tied for fifth.
Fresno State is in its first year under the leadership of former Boise State assistant Leisa Rosen (1998). She is the wife of former Bronco head coach Mark Rosen (1998).
Fresno State is coming off a split last week, winning 3-2 at Nevada before falling 3-1 at San Jose State.
The Bulldogs were picked to place 11th by the league's coaches in this year's conference race.
This will be the 44th meeting all-time between the two programs, with Fresno State holding a slim 22-21 edge in the series; Boise State leads 11-8 in contests played at Boise.
Last year, they split the series, with the home team winning both.

Nevada enters the week at 4-11 overall and 0-4 in the conference.
The Wolf Pack will play at Utah State on Thursday before their Boise State match.
The Wolf Pack lost a pair of matches last week, falling 3-2 at home to Fresno State before traveling to San Jose State where they lost 3-1.
Nevada was picked to place ninth out of 11 teams in the 2023 MW race.
The Nevada series is the oldest for the Broncos in the MW, with Saturday's encounter being the 68th all-time.
Boise State leads the series 37-30 and 16-15 in Boise.
The two teams split last year, with the road team winning each time by 3-1 scores.

Utah State enters the week at 10-5 overall and 3-1 in the conference, in a four-way tie for first.
USU will host Nevada and Fresno State, respectively, before traveling to Boise.
The Aggies are coming off a road split last week, defeating New Mexico 3-1 before falling in five at Air Force.
The league's coaches picked USU to tie with UNLV for the MW title.
Tuesday's meeting will be the 51st all-time in a series that Boise State leads 29-21 and 16-8 in Boise.
The Aggies swept the series in 2022.
points.

Boise State is in its 15th season under the direction of head coach Shawn Garus.
The two-time MW Coach of the Year honoree is 252-180 all-time at Boise State and 367-300 in his 22-year career.
The Broncos have recorded 12 winning seasons in 14 years under Garus, including an active streak of nine straight winning campaigns.
Garus has guided the Broncos to one MW regular season title (2016), one MW Tournament title (2021), two NCAA Tournament appearances (2016, 2021), and two NIVC appearances (2017 and 2019).

The Broncos are sold out of reserved season tickets (the entire east side of the gym) for the second straight year.
Single-match tickets are also on sale and can be purchased in person at the Boise State Athletics Ticket Office or by calling 208-426-4737 or online at BroncoSports.com/tickets.