Nov. 10, 2005
Box Score
Reno, Nev. - The University of Nevada(15-10, 9-5 WAC) rallied from a 2-1 deficit to down the University of Idaho(13-13, 5-8 WAC) in a five-game Western Athletic Conference match at the Virginia Street Gym in Reno, Nev. by a 3-2 count on Thursday night. The Wolf Pack ended up playing their fifth, five-game match in the last seven matches tonight. The Pack won game one 30-27 but the Vandals took the next two by scores of 30-17, and 30-21 before Nevada evened the match at two games apiece with a 30-19 game four victory. In the deciding fifth game Nevada led big early but held on for the 15-13 match clinching win.
After scoring a 30-19 game four victory to force a fifth game the Pack jumped out to a 7-2 advantage in game five. With Nevada leading 11-6 Idaho called a time out. Following the time out UI out scored the Pack 6-2 to close within a point at 13-12. The Pack got kills from sophomores Karly Sipherd, and a Teal Ericson to close out the game 15-13, and the match 3-2. Nevada hit .250 in the final game compared to .167 for the Vandals.
Game one was the closest of the first four as it was tied 12 times, and there were five lead changes before the Pack prevailed 30-27. Nevada led 27-23 but three unanswered points closed the gap to a single point. Salaia Salave`a accounted for the next two Pack points with a kill, and a service ace to make the score 29-26. UI got a kill from Erin Curtis but Ericson ended game one with a kill. The Pack hit .220 in game one while UI hit .175.
In game two the Vandals broke a 6-6 tie by scoring the next four points and never looked back in winning easily 30-17 to even the match at one game apiece. UI had its best hitting percentage of the night at .400 and the Pack hit just .023 in game two.
The Vandals kept things rolling in game three as they scored the first point of the game and did not trail in claiming the 30-21 victory. UI was still hot finishing with a .310 attack percentage while Nevada continued to struggle hitting just .088.
Nevada would need a victory in game four to force a deciding fifth game and accomplished that feat with a 30-19 win. Game four was tied for the third time at 6-6 but a 6-0 run gave the Pack all the momentum they would need to even the match at two games apiece. The Wolf Pack hit .250 and held UI to a negative .049 attack percentage in game four. The Pack continued their success taking the deciding game five, 15-13.
Salave`a led Nevada with a match high 18 kills, and posted a double-double as she collected 10 digs. Ericson, and Sipherd contributed 13, and 10 kills respectively. Setter Tristin Johnson had 26 assists off the bench while starter Ashley Miller dished out 21. Libero Christine Harms, who also played some outside hitter in game three, still posted a match high 14 digs while teammate Dana Henry added 12 digs.
Haley Larsen led UI with 15 kills while Curtis was close behind with 14. Amanda Brown was the third Vandal to finish in double figures with 10 kills. Setter Saxony Brown tallied a match high 47 assists on the night. Meghan Brown, and Kati Tikker had 13, and 12 digs respectively for the Vandals.
UI out hit Nevada .190 to .144 in the match and won the battle at the net out blocking the Pack 9-7. Sipherd led Nevada with four blocks while Curtis had six for UI.
Nevada hosts Fresno State, Saturday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. in the final home WAC match of the season.
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