RECAP | Thunderbirds Fall in Three to the Bengals

CEDAR CITY, Utah -- The Southern Utah volleyball team opened their Big Sky Conference schedule this Thursday evening against the Bengals of Idaho State University. The Thunderbirds dropped the match in three sets. 

"Idaho State played a great game," said head coach Pete Hoyer. "They had minimal errors and we struggled on our side of the net. Saturday against Weber will hopefully be a whole new match for us."

Shannon Webb led the Thunderbirds in kills with 13, followed by Thea Leiataua who had 10. Corrin Peterson finished the night with 32 assists. Leiataua recorded the most digs with 14. 

The first set opened with an ace from Peterson, giving the Thunderbirds an early lead which they carried to the 10 point mark.  The Bengals made their way within one at 12-11 where SUU called a timeout. After coming out of the timeout, SUU distanced themselves by three at 17-14. The score knotted at 17-17 and again at 18-18. ISU took their first lead of the game at 20-18, where Hoyer called his second timeout.  The Thunderbirds weren't able to comeback after the setback, giving the Bengals the set 25-19. 

SUU made their way to the 10 point mark first in the second set as they led the Bengals 10-5. ISU made their way within two at 12-10 but the Thunderbirds pulled away once more at 14-10. Two kills from Leiataua puts the T-Birds at 17-13 but a 2-0 scoring run from ISU brings the Bengals with two. Two successful Bengal attacks knots the score at 17-17, then again at 18-18 for the second set in a row. This time the Thunderbirds come out atop after a kill from Hone at 19-18. The Bengals answered back with a three point scoring run, going up 21-19 on the T-Birds. ISU went on to win the set 25-19. 

Montgomery led the Thunderbirds to the 10 point mark in the third set as she tallied three of the Thunderbirds kills to that point. After being down by three at least for the entirety of the set, Bengals made their largest comeback effort, coming within one at 17-16. SUU distanced themselves by three at 23-20 but the Bengals came back to tie it at 23-23. A kill from ISU put them up 24-23 but Webb fired back to knot things once more at 24-24. Two SUU errors put the score at 26-24, earning set and match win for the Bengals. 

Next Up

The Thunderbirds will face the Wildcats of Weber State University on Saturday, September 28, 2019 at 1:00 p.m. 

Admission will be free if a homecoming football ticket is presented. 

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