Boise State Cruises Past New Mexico on Alumni Day

Saturday, October 5

Boise, Idaho

Noon MT

Boise State

10-5,2-1Mountain West

New Mexico

9-5,2-2Mountain West

New Mexico

Boise St.

Group photo of alums on Alumnae Day in Bronco Gym on October 5, 2024.

10/5/2024 3:41:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

By: Courtesy: Boise State Athletics

BOISE, Idaho – Boise State volleyball used a balanced offense to sweep the New Mexico Lobos 25-17, 25-17, 25-15 for Homecoming and alumni day in Bronco Gym. The win improved the Blue and Orange to 10-5 and 2-2 in MW play, while New Mexico moved to 9-5 and 2-2.

Neither team hit the ball very well, but Boise State had three players, Annie Kaminski, Anabel Kotzakov and Reagan Casey, record nine kills each to lead the offensive effort for the Blue and Orange.

Boise State also held solid advantages in serving and blocking. The Broncos recorded 12 service aces to UNM's one and had 11 blocks to the Lobos' five.

Tied at 5-5 in set one, Boise State used a 4-1 run to pull into the lead and never trailed again in the period. The set remained close until the Broncos used a 3-0 run to close out the eight-point win, 25-17.

Boise State rallied in the second from 11-6 down to win it 25-17. Trailing 16-13, the Broncos closed the set with a 12-1 run, capped by Elle Cotton's second service ace to clinch it.

The Broncos controlled the third set early, racing out to a 10-4 lead. They continued to pull away from the Lobos down the stretch, eventually taking the third period by 10 points at 25-15.

TOP BRONCOS

Annie Kaminski turned in nine kills while hitting .562 with six blocks to finish with a team-high 12.5 points.
Anabel Kotzakov also had nine kills with one ace, six digs, one block and 10.5 points.
Reagan Casey tied for the team-high in kills with nine and hit a team-high .636 to go with five blocks and 12 points.
Bre Mitchell tied her career-high for service aces with five; she also tied for the team-high in digs with 11.
Lilli Etter earned her second-straight double-double and the fifth of the season on 13 assists and 11 digs.

NOTABLES

Annie Kaminski's six blocks gave her 16 on the weekend, moving her from 15th all-time on the career blocks list at Boise State into 14th with 311, passing Alisha King (2007-10), who had 304.
Paige Bartsch tallied three service aces to put her at 118 in her career and move her into second place during the rally scoring era (since 2001).
Reagan Casey recorded new Boise State career-highs for kills with nine and blocks with five while setting her collegiate career high for hitting percentage at .636.
The win extended Boise State's series advantage to 14-12.

QUOTABLES

Shawn Garus, head coach

"I think it was a real complete effort for us today, starting from the service line. We applied a lot of pressure with aggressive servers in all rotations. Our serving set up opportunities to block, and I thought our blocking was terrific. Annie and Reagan had so many stuff blocks today, but also positive deflections that we were able to transition from."
"I think both our freshman setters just keep getting better. They are so aggressive, and that will be important to how we develop throughout the season."

Anabel Kotzakov, sophomore outside hitter

"I think we played so well today because we played together. I feel like in past matches, we kind of isolated ourselves at times when things aren't going well. But today, if something wasn't going well, we immediately pulled together and turned it around."
"We knew coming in that they weren't going to be a team that's going to roll over easy. So, we came in here, worked hard, started off strong, then kept it going."

WHAT'S NEXT

Boise State will continue Mountain West action on the road when the Broncos travel to Colorado State on Thursday, October 10 and Wyoming on Saturday, October 12.