The Seattle University volleyball team nearly pulled off its second comeback from a 2-0 deficit this season, but Idaho State came from behind in the fifth set to earn the 3-2 victory (25-20, 27-25, 22-25, 26-28, 15-13) Friday night at Reed Gym.
There were 11 ties and five lead changes in the final set as both teams battled to pull out the victory. With Seattle University ahead 13-12, Idaho State stormed back, taking advantage of a Redhawk service error to tie the set, and then earning the victory with a kill from Jaclyn Hone and a service ace by Brenda Cooper.
Seattle University fell behind, 7-3, early in the fourth set but came back, forcing 11 ties and three lead changes during the set. Idaho State had two chances to close out the match, but the Redhawks were able to extend the match on a block by Jamie Mellies (Henderson, Nev.) and Janet Beckerman (Bellevue, Wash.), a solo block from Jordan Keller (Mukilteo, Wash.), and a kill by Kaytlyn Dill (Bothell, Wash.).
The Redhawks could have gone into the intermission tied at a set apiece, as a kill by Dill gave Seattle University three chances to close out the set. However, the Bengals used a service error and two Redhawk attack errors to extend the set, and another attack error followed by a kill from Ashlyn McDowell allowed Idaho State to win the second set.
Idaho State (7-17) pulled ahead 13-10 in the third set as the home team looked to finish the sweep, but Seattle University had a different plan in mind. A 7-1 run gave the Redhawks a 17-14 lead, but the Bengals called a timeout and promptly scored the next four points to retake the lead. Seattle University fought back again, taking the third set with a kill by Dill and a Bengal attack error.
Both Dill and Cristin Richards (Olympia, Wash.) obliterated their career highs in kills, with Richards leading all players with 25 kills and Dill earning 24 kills in the match. Richards also had 16 digs, while Dill contributed six digs and three block assists. Mellies also had a double-double with 56 assists and 16 digs, plus she earned three total blocks.
Defensively, Keller led the way at the net with seven total blocks, with Beckerman notching five total blocks to go along with six kills. In the back, libero Shelly Anderson (Bothell, Wash.) led the way with 25 digs as Seattle University finished with 82 digs and 13 blocks as a team.
For Idaho State, Emily Waldron led the way with 21 kills and 19 defensive digs, with Cooper contributing 11 kills and five block assists and Hone adding ten kills and 19 digs to the winning effort. Blakely Peppinger (26 assists) and Karissa Legaux (21 assists) split the setting duties, McDowell led Idaho State with six blocks, and libero Page Palmer contributed 15 digs in the match.
Seattle University (9-19) will look to recover quickly tomorrow night, as the team travels to Ogden, Utah, to face Weber State beginning at 7 p.m. local time. The Redhawks will then have over a week off before playing Seattle Pacific in the home finale Wednesday, Nov. 12, beginning at 7 p.m. at the Connolly Center.