Box Score Oct. 1, 2016 Box Score
RENO, Nev. - The Nevada Wolf Pack (11-4, 2-1) volleyball team came from behind in set four against the Boise State Broncos (11-6, 2-2) Saturday afternoon to claim a road win three sets to one (25-23, 25-19, 20-25, 28-26).
Not since Sept. 7, 2010 has Nevada beaten Boise State. The victory marks the end of a nine match losing streak for Nevada against the Broncos. The Pack was led by senior Madison Morell who racked up 19 kills and seven digs. Freshman Ayla Fresenius put up her second double-double of the season with an 11 kill and 15 dig performance. Junior Madison Foley recorded 12 kills while freshman Shayla Hoeft logged five blocks. Senior Lyndsey Anderson put up 40 assists on the afternoon.
"We came out of the gates as well as we have all year," said head coach Lee Nelson. "I think the first two sets we played were some of the best we've put together in the past two years."
The Broncos claimed a three point lead to start the first set, going up 5-2. The Pack quickly came back with Morell and Fresenius leading the way, going up 7-6 for Nevada's first lead of the match. Nevada continued to hold onto their narrow lead until the Broncos came out on top of a very long rally to tie it up at 12. Foley answered right back with an attack from deep in the court to put Nevada back up one. Boise State claimed a lead, but Foley again came through to tie it up at 16. The Broncos were the first to reach 20 with a two point lead over the Pack. A big block from senior Kathryn Groenweghe and Morell brought Nevada back to within one, 22-21. Anderson set back to serve, and found the sweet spot of the court for an ace to tie it up for the 12th time in the set. A kill from Morell put the Pack back in the lead, forcing Boise State to call a timeout. Boise State came back to 24-23, but Fresenius' fifth kill of the match sealed it for Nevada at 25-23.
The second set started strong for Nevada as it jumped out to a 3-0 lead. The Pack maintained the lead as Foley continued to rack up kills until the Broncos tied it up at 9-9. The Broncos would go up by three, 15-12, before the media timeout. The Pack started to nip at the heals of the Broncos, until a critical block from Hoeft tied it up 17. The Pack went up by one with a Foley kill, but Boise State answered right back to put the score at 18 all. Nevada then went up 21-19 before the Boise State timeout, and a Bronco error combined with Morell's ninth kill of the match put the Pack up 23-19. Boise State came out of its second timeout with two consecutive errors to give Nevada set two 25-19 and put the Pack up 2-0 in the match.
Nevada came out of the half meaning busy and immediately established a 5-1 lead. In the flurry of points came Morell's 10th kill of the match, continuing her streak from the start of the season. The Pack continued to lead as Hoeft logged a few more kills. Nevada grew the lead to five at the media timeout, up 15-10. The Broncos made a late run to come within two, trailing the Pack 19-17. Boise State came out of the timeout to score two more, tying the set up at 19. The Broncos then took their first lead of the set at 21-20, forcing Nevada to call a timeout. Boise State would go on a 9-1 run to take the third set 25-20.
Set four started neck and neck as the teams were locked up at four. The teams exchanged one-points leads until Boise began to pull away. The Broncos took advantage of a small absence from Foley growing the lead to 20-11. It was then that Foley returned to the court and, like a breath of fresh air, rejuvenated Nevada. The Pack began ticking away at the Bronco lead, scoring four straight points to come within three, 23-20. The Broncos put up another point from Kaitlin Oliver to get to match point, but Nevada wasn't going to let that happen as five straight Pack points put Nevada up 25-24. The teams went back and forth with leads and ties, but it was Nevada who would come out on top 28-26 to take the match 3-1.
"The fourth set was a roller coaster and the team just didn't give up," Nelson said. "We kept fighting until we had a chance, then the momentum switched and we were able to close it out."
Nevada will return home to the Virginia Street Gym on Oct. 6 when it takes on San Jose State at 6:30 p.m.
