Box Score Oct. 27, 2016 Box Score
RENO, Nev. - In a close match that was decided by a total of eight points, Nevada Wolf Pack volleyball (14-8, 5-5) dropped a three-set match (32-30, 25-22, 25-22) to the Boise State Broncos (18-6, 9-2) Thursday night to start the weekend.
Three Pack players saw double digits in the kill column with junior Madison Foley leading the team at 15. Seniors Madison Morell (14) and Kathryn Groenweghe (10) followed right behind her as Morell continued her streak of 10 or more kills in every game this season. The Plano, Texas native also dug up 12 balls for her eighth double-double of 2016. Senior setter Lyndsey Anderson picked up her fourth double-double of the season with 44 assists and 10 digs. Freshman Shayla Hoeft kept up the strong play at the net with four blocks.
Nevada and Boise State kept things tight to start the first set. Although Boise State went up two 6-4, the Pack, led by Foley, tied it back up 6-6. The Broncos then took a three point lead, and proceeded to hold onto it throughout the middle of the match, expanding to four at some points. The Pack came within two, 19-17, to force Boise State to call a timeout after two consecutive kills from Groenweghe. A Bronco attack error and an ace via the setter Lyndsey Anderson knotted the match up at 19 as Nevada went on a 5-0 run. The set then tied up again at 20, 21, 22 and 23 before Boise State called another timeout, not able to put the Pack's charge at bay. Boise State snagged its first match point of the set at 24-23 and, after a Pack timeout, Nevada tied it back up at 24. The match went 25-25 before the Broncos took a one-point advantage at 26-25. Another kill from Groenweghe tied it up again. The Broncos took the one-point advantage again. Morell tied it up. At 27-27 it was Nevada who took the advantage, up 28-27, before Boise State knotted it up again. Groenweghe allowed the Pack to keep the advantage at 29-28 before Boise State scored yet again, bringing the score to 29-29, then 30-30. The Broncos would be the first team to score the two points needed, taking the hard-fought set one 32-30.
There was no clear winner of the beginning of the second as the two teams exchanged points back and forth. The Broncos took a 6-4 lead, but Nevada went on a 3-0 run to take a 7-6 lead, its first of the set since scoring the first point. The Broncos then reclaimed the lead, going up by as much as five. Nevada then went on a 4-0 run as the Pack came within one, 21-20. Boise State put an end to the run, however, winning set two 25-22. Morell put down that key 10th kill in the second set, keeping her perfect on the season in double-digit kills.
It was Nevada who came out with the advantage in set three, taking an early 5-3 lead. Boise State continued to fight, but Hoeft and Foley kept Nevada on top 9-7. Nevada then expanded its lead to 13-10 off a kill from sophomore Peighton De Von. Nevada held onto the lead for several more points, but the Broncos found their offensive stride, taking a 17-15 lead before a Wolf Pack timeout. The regrouping did Nevada some good as the Pack came out and immediately tied it up at 18 behind Foley and freshman Camille Davey. Hoeft and Foley then combined for a block, giving Nevada the lead back at 19-18. Boise State tied it up at 19, but back-to-back balls that fell outside the line put the Pack up two, 21-19. In an almost identical fashion to the first two sets, the third set tied up late as both teams locked up at 22. The Broncos' Sierra Nobley broke the tie to put the visiting team up 23-22, and two more Bronco points would lock it up for Boise State as they took the final match 25-22.
Nevada returns to the Virginia Street Gym Saturday afternoon when it takes on Air Force at 1 p.m. PT.
