Download PDF - University of Idaho Library
Download PDF - University of Idaho Library
Download PDF - University of Idaho Library
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
[>Rollercoaster<br />
Now, the Vandals had a<br />
chance to turn the tables as<br />
they came home to host the<br />
<strong>University</strong> Inn-<strong>Idaho</strong> Invitational.<br />
The women swept<br />
Ihrougp Whitworth, Eastern<br />
Washington, Lewis-Clark<br />
Siale, and rival Washington<br />
State to claim the title and<br />
raise their season to 6-2.<br />
Despite pushing two talented<br />
learns, Wyoming and<br />
Illinois, to the wire, <strong>Idaho</strong> lost<br />
both games and had to rely<br />
'on two wins over Montana<br />
Stale to claim a fifth place<br />
finish.<br />
Two more wins over<br />
Washington Stale and Whitworth<br />
gave <strong>Idaho</strong> an impressive<br />
8-2 record as they<br />
headed into their leagueopening<br />
road trip to Montana.<br />
But, it was the wrong way to<br />
slarl conference competition.<br />
The Vandals dropped to Montana<br />
and lost a heartbreaking<br />
match 10 Montana<br />
State, a team they had<br />
already beaten twice. The<br />
MSU loss would come back to<br />
haunt the Vandals in the fight<br />
for a play<strong>of</strong>f spot.<br />
A non-conference win over<br />
Lewis-Clark State and two<br />
league victories at home<br />
against Weber State and<br />
<strong>Idaho</strong> State boosted the<br />
spikers' record to 11-4, with a<br />
2-2 conference mark.<br />
The Vandals lost three <strong>of</strong><br />
their following four matches<br />
to drop their ever-important<br />
conference mark to 3-5. Included<br />
in the losses were two<br />
tough contests which could<br />
have gone either way. They<br />
dropped an emotional four-<br />
set match to Boise State and<br />
fell to Montana in a dramatic<br />
five-set match which <strong>Idaho</strong><br />
nearly pulled out.<br />
The grueling loss to the<br />
Grizzlies seemed to ignite a<br />
fire under the Vandals as they<br />
won six <strong>of</strong> their next seven<br />
matches. The hot streak,<br />
which included big victories<br />
over <strong>Idaho</strong> State, Washington<br />
State, and Boise State,<br />
brought their season record to<br />
an impressive 18-8. And, with<br />
a 7-6 conference record, the<br />
Vandals badly needed a victory<br />
over league-leading Portland<br />
State to gain a chance<br />
at the play<strong>of</strong>fs.<br />
But, after a tough loss 10<br />
Oregon, the nelters couldn't<br />
recover and they fell to Por·<br />
tland State to end their hopes<br />
for post-season play.<br />
It was, however, a season <strong>of</strong><br />
bright individual performances<br />
for the Vandals.<br />
Pacing the Vandals' well<br />
balanced a ttack were seniors<br />
Patti Bennett and Linda<br />
Kelling; juniors Jodi Gill and<br />
Beth Johns; sophomores Laura<br />
Burns, Kelly Gibbons and<br />
Julie Holsinger; and freshmen<br />
Kelly Neely and Kathleen<br />
Sherman.<br />
Kelling, from Lyons,<br />
Colorado, led the team in serving<br />
percentage (,98), assists<br />
(745), and hit percentage<br />
(.267). .<br />
Burns was the clutch serve<br />
receiver for the silver and<br />
gold. The Santa Paula,<br />
Cailfornia native commited<br />
only 35 ·errors in 438 atcontinued<br />
[><br />
Battle above the net.<br />
Idc:mo sophomore Laura Bums .!rugg1etllo<br />
pum the ball palIt a Portland<br />
SIal. d.f.nd.r. PSU, und.fealed In<br />
confer.ac. play ....nt\lally<br />
d.feated Ih. Vandala. {photo by M.<br />
LaOrang.l<br />
176<br />
Volleyball
Change language