Boxscore:
Reno, Nev. - The University of Nevada(12-8, 6-2 WAC) volleyball team rallied from a 2-1 deficit to defeat Boise State(8-11, 2-5 WAC) 3-2 in a Western Athletic Conference match at the Virginia Street Gym in Reno on Thursday night. The Wolf Pack won by scores of 30-27, 19-30, 26-30, 30-26 and 15-7 in the deciding fifth game to improve to 6-2 in WAC action and 12-8 on the season. The Broncos loss leaves them at 2-5 in conference play and 8-11 overall.
Nevada took control of the deciding fifth game jumping out to a 5-1 lead and were never challenged by BSU in winning 15-7. The Pack got five kills from senior Carly Sorensen in the final game. Junior Teal Ericson totaled four kills and senior Brianne Hall three in game five. Nevada hit .750 in the final game and BSU .545.
Game one was tied 10 times and there were four lead changes before the Pack prevailed 30-27. The final tie of the game came at 24-24 before Nevada used a 3-0 run to take the lead for good. Freshman Jorgan Staker ended the first game with a kill off an assist from senior setter Tristin Johnson. Offensively Nevada struggled hitting just .160 but held the Broncos to an .043 attack percentage.
BSU dominated game two winning 30-19 to even the match at one game apiece. Leading 12-11 the Broncos scored seven consecutive points, six coming on the serve of Andrea Kelley to take control. BSU hit .216 and Nevada .000 in game two.
Following the break Nevada scored the first three points of game three but BSU knotted up the score at 5-5. The Broncos’ biggest lead came at 16-8 but the Pack closed within a two at 26-24. A 4-2 run by the Broncos gave them game three 30-26 and a 2-1 games advantage in the match. BSU hit .255 in game three and Nevada .191.
Needing a win in game four to force a deciding fifth game Nevada used a 5-1 run to break a 25-25 tie on the way to the 30-26 victory to even the match at two games each. Game four was tied 16 times and there were six lead changes. Ericson had eight kills in game four, including the final two and Hall added four. The Pack hit .204 and BSU .125 in the pivotal fourth game.
Ericson established a career high with a match high 25 kills on the night. Hall(14), Sorensen(11), and Staker(10) also reached double figures in kills. Sorensen recorded her ninth double-double of the season as she totaled 14 digs. Johnson also had a career high with 66 assists in the match. Freshman libero KatiJo Matthews posted a career high with 23 digs which ties Allison Hernandez for the team high this season. Hernandez also reached double figures in digs finishing with 18.
Ericson’s 934 career kills after the career high of 25 moved her past Kellie LaBossiere(1998-01) into eighth place on the career kills list. Junior Karly Sipherd continues to climb the Pack career blocking charts as her three on night gives her 341 total blocks which moves her in front of Jaimie Keith(1993-96) into third place on the Silver & Blue career list.
Three Bronco players reached double figures in kills led by Jeanette Jenkins’ 14. Arlee Tamietti and Cameron Flunder finished with 12 and 11 kills respectively on the night. Setter Mandy Klein had 40 assists in the match. Libero Jackie Stroud led BSU with 19 digs while Jamie Claussen had 11 and Kelley 10.
Offensively both teams struggled as Nevada hit .203 and BSU .184 in the match. The Pack won the blocking battle 13-11. Freshman Sage Aune led the Pack with six blocks and also equaled her career high with nine kills. Robyn Hewitt and Jenkins had five blocks apiece for the Broncos.
Nevada continues its two-match home stand hosting Idaho on Saturday night at 7:00 p.m. in the Virginia Street Gym.
