The Seattle University volleyball team had its chances in all three sets it played Friday night, but the University of Idaho was able to secure the important points, leading the Vandals to defeat the Redhawks, 3-0 (25-23, 25-23, 25-22) in the second match of the Idaho Volleyball Classic at Memorial Gym.
In the opening set, Seattle U took an early three-point lead thanks to kills by Iris Ivanis (Pozega, Croatia) and Shae Harris (Vancouver, B.C.) sandwiched around a block by Martina Samadan (Split, Croatia). Down 13-9, Idaho rallied back, scoring five unanswered points to pull ahead, 14-13, but four straight points from the Redhawks, including a kill by Jelena Vujcin (Becej, Serbia) and a block by Ivanis, put Seattle U back on top, 19-16.
Idaho (1-3) would go on a 7-1 scoring run, punctuated by two kills from Sarah Sharp, to bring about set point at 24-21. A block by Harris and a kill from Matea Mamic (Split, Croatia) extended the set, but the Vandals would finally clinch the opening set thanks to a block by DeVonne Ryter and Katelyn Peterson.
The Vandals scored three of the first four points of the second set before Seattle U scored four of the next five, featuring two blocks by Maja Stojanovic (Cacak, Serbia) and Harris. Seattle U took advantage of several Idaho attack errors to pull out to a 14-8 lead, but the Vandals rebounded, going on an 8-1 scoring run later in the set, including two kills by Peterson, to take the lead, 23-19. Samadan helped extend the set with three kills, but Idaho used a Seattle U attack error to clinch the second set and take a 2-0 match lead into the intermission.
In the third set, blocks by Kaela Straw and Torrin Crawford surrounded by a service ace from Peterson gave the Vandals a 6-4 lead, but two kills by Vujcin sandwiched around a block by Samadan and Kerry Lane (Tucson, Ariz.) tied the set at 9-9. Idaho scored four of the next five points to retake the lead, but kills by Mamic, Stojanovic, and Mila Duarte (Lima, Peru) helped the Redhawks once again tie the set, this time at 17-17.
Once again, Idaho scored four of the next five points to pull ahead, 22-18, but kills by Vujcin, Lane, and Samadan helped Seattle U close its deficit to one. The Vandals closed out the set and the match with a kill by Peterson and a service ace by Sami Parris.
“Idaho did a good job of executing their game plan tonight. We struggled in working together, which contributed to our 42 unforced errors. We look to make a strong rebound tomorrow,” Seattle U head coach James Finley said.
Samadan led the Redhawks with 13 kills, a .500 hitting percentage, and four total blocks, plus she collected five digs. Vujcin contributed seven kills and six digs, while Ivanis and Mamic added six kills each. Defensively, Kirstin Schauble (Meadow Vista, Calif.) led the way with 15 digs. Although Seattle U earned more kills and more digs than Idaho, the Redhawks gave away several free points to the Vandals, committing 13 service errors in the match.
Seattle University (3-1) continues play in the Idaho Volleyball Classic Saturday, Sept. 5, facing Washington State at 10 a.m. and UC Irvine at 4:30 p.m. Links to live stats and live video of both matches can be found on the volleyball schedule page of GoSeattleU.com.