Broncos Aces Out Rams

Thursday, September 21

Boise, Idaho

7 p.m. MT

Boise State

5-6,1-0Mountain West

Colorado State

6-6,0-1Mountain West

Colorado St.

Boise St.

9/21/2023 11:03:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

BOISE, Idaho – Boise State scored eight of the final nine points of the match to post a 25-17, 21-25, 25-15, 20-25, 15-12 victory over Colorado State in the Mountain West opener for both schools, Thursday Night at Bronco Gym.

Paige Bartsch had four kills during the final stretch to finish with a match-high 24 for the Broncos (5-6, 1-0 MW). Bartsch hit .750 in the fifth set and tied her season high for kills, one shy of her career best.

The senior added seven aces, a school record in the rally scoring era, including five during one rotation in the fourth set. The aces also tied for third in all-time matches at Boise State and 33 points tied for fourth in a five-set match during the rally scoring era.

As a team, the Broncos recorded 12 aces, tied for third in a five-set, rally scoring match. Noelani Helm notched a season-high 45 assists.

Bartsch registered six kills and hit .625 to lead the Broncos to an opening set victory. Boise State led 20-19 before a 6-1 run by the Rams (6-6, 0-1) evened the match, 1-1.

The Broncos raced out to an 11-4 lead and cruised to a set three win behind four of Anabel Kotzakov's 14 kills.

Colorado State led 10-4 in set four before committing a service error. Bartsch then served for six points, including five aces to give the Broncos an 11-10 advantage. The match was tied at 15 before the Rams scored four-straight to create separation and eventually push the match to a deciding set.

Bartsch recorded back-to-back kills in the fifth set to cut a four-point deficit in half and bring the Broncos within 11-9. After the teams traded points, Kotzakov notched a kill and Chey Day and Kiersten Van Kirk combined for a block to tie the score at 12.

Two more kills by Bartsch and an attack error by the Rams gave Boise State its second-straight win over Colorado State after winning just one of the first 22 meetings.

Top Broncos

Bartsch had 33 points, including 24 kills and seven aces.
Noelani Helm recorded a season-high 45 assists.
Helm and Breanna Mitchell each had a team-high 14 digs.

Quotes

"I love the fight that our team showed tonight, coming out like we deserved to win," head coach Shawn Garus said. When we play with that type of aggression, we find ourselves in a match with a chance. In set five, we were down, but I never thought we were out. I give a ton of credit to the leadership on the floor."

Notes