RECAP | Thunderbird Volleyball Goes 0-2 on the Road After 3-1 Loss in Idaho 

MOSCOW, Idaho -- The Southern Utah University volleyball team fell to the Idaho Vandals Friday evening in Moscow, Idaho. The Thunderbirds fell in the first set, rallied back to take the second set, then fell short in the third and fourth. SUU is now 11-9 overall and 4-4 in Big Sky play. 

"We had a lot of self-inflicted wounds," said head coach Pete Hoyer. "We had a lot more fight than we had last night, which I'm proud of, but we had far too many errors to beat a great team like Idaho. Monday against NAU will be a pivotal match for us and we are glad to be at home for it."  

Shannon Webb lead the Thunderbirds offense with 14 kills on the evening followed closely by Katie Montgomery and Thea Leiataua who had 13 each, respectively. Freshman Sarah Gasper led in digs with 18, with Leiataua close behind at 16. Corrin Peterson led the team in assists with 49 on the evening. 

The Vandals out blocked SUU 17.5 to 5.0. Both teams ended the match with 56 kills, though SUU had a lower hitting percentage at 0.156 compared to Idaho's 0.291. 

The Vandals were the first to ten in the first set but the Thunderbirds were close by at nine. A kill from Leiataua tied the score at 11 a piece. The score knotted again at 12-12, 13-13 and 14-14 before Idaho took a two point lead at 16-14. As play continued the Vandals kept ahold of their lead, taking it to the end of the set to claim the first at 25-20. 

The Thunderbirds opened the second by going up by seven over the Vandals at 9-2. SUU made their way to 10 first but Idaho's comeback effort brought them back within four at 10-6. The Thunderbirds pushed their lead to 14-6 where Idaho called their second timeout of the set. Coming out of the timeout the Vandals made a 9-1 run bringing them within three at 24-22. An Idaho service error ended the set at 25-22 giving SUU the set win. 

Set three began with Idaho taking the lead early and making their way to ten first at 10-8. The Vandals extended their lead to 14-9 before the Thunderbirds called their first timeout. SUU made their back within four at 21-17 but the Vandals took over, scoring four more to take the set 25-19. 

The fourth set tied at 7-7 and the Vandals quickly pushed ahead by four at 12-8. After an SUU timeout at 14-9, Idaho went on to push their five point lead to 18-13 where SUU called their second timeout. After the break the Vandals took their lead to seven at 20-13. The Thunderbirds then went on a 3-0 scoring run, coming within four of the Vandals at 20-16. Idaho proved to be too much for the Thunderbirds as the Vandals took the set 25-18, winning the match 3-1. 

Next Up

The Thunderbirds will face the Lumberjacks of the Northern Arizona University Monday, October 21, 2019 at 6:30 p.m. inside the America First Event Center. 

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