MOSCOW, Idaho -- The Thunderbird volleyball team played their first Big Sky Conference match of their spring season on Sunday afternoon, and ultimately fell to the University of Idaho Vandals in four sets, 3-1. 

Southern Utah claimed the first set with a strong 25-23 performance, but were unable to get back in the winning column for the remainder of the match. That marked Southern Utah's first set victory of the season after getting swept by Dixie State in their opening match.  

After Idaho took the second set 25-21, the two teams went back-and-forth in an entertaining third set of action, which unfortunately for Southern Utah went the way of the home team 27-25. 

The Vandals secured the victory with a 25-21 victory in the fourth and final set of the day. 

In her first match of the season, Thunderbird senior Stacey Hone led the offensive attack with 17 kills on 38 attempts. Raegen Ashby was second on the team in kills with 13 and a .435 hitting percentage. 

Corrin Peterson dished out 46 assists on the day, while Bridget Triplett finished the match with an impressive six total blocks. Hone finished with five blocks, putting in work both offensively and defensively. 

As a team, the T-Birds finished with 11 total blocks compared to Idaho's nine. 

 For the Vandals, Kennedy Warren finished the match with 25 kills on 56 attempts. 

The Thunderbirds will wrap up their road swing against the Vandals on Monday evening, as the second match of the back-to-back is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. MT. 

Stay up to date during the 2020-21 Thunderbird Volleyball season by following @SUUVolleyball on Twitter and Instagram and liking the Southern Utah Volleyball page on Facebook.