CEDAR CITY, Utah -- Southern Utah women's volleyball will take on the Idaho State Bengals in Pocatello, Idaho on Saturday, Nov. 7 at 2:00 pm as the Thunderbirds will look to claim their first conference win against a team that has lost three of its last four outings.

The Thunderbirds

Southern Utah's offense comes into Saturday's match having scored at least 30 kills in seven of its last eight matches and recording a hitting percentage above its season average in five of those outings. After a 36-kill performance against Weber State saw the Thunderbirds match their opponents total kills for the first time in nearly two weeks, Southern Utah will look to take advantage of a defense that has allowed 50+ kills in six of its last seven performances.

Ryen Smith now sits at second among all Southern Utah players in kills after an 11-kill performance against Weber State saw her surpass Natalie Moore with 123 for the season. Smith has been a model of consistency for the Thunderbirds all season long, scoring at least five kills in 15 of the 20 matches that she's played in.

Emilia Zug also scored 11 kills against Weber State, marking her eighth straight match with at least five kills as she is now tied with Moore for third on the team with 114 each. Meanwhile, Audrey Atwood quietly collected six kills last time out to keep her kills per set in conference play above two.

The Thunderbirds have averaged more than 13 digs per set during their last eight matches and have been putting in work at the net with five-plus blocks in seven of their last nine. That defense will look to put the clamps on an Idaho State offense that has hit below .200 in three of its last four matches.

Emilia Linden is coming off a big match against Weber State in which she led all Thunderbirds with three total blocks, making it three matches in a row with a rejection for the junior. Natalie Moore made it nine straight outings with a block in the last match as she is the only Southern Utah player with more blocks than Linden on the season, leading 59-41.

On the back line, Kaitlyn Barnes has stepped up in a big way in her last two performances, leading the Thunderbirds in digs both nights, averaging more than two digs per set. Audrey Atwood has also been excellent on defense for Southern Utah, with at least five digs in nine straight matches.

The Bengals

Idaho State is currently 16-9 on the season and 8-5 in conference play after snapping a three-match losing streak against Utah Tech on Thursday. The Bengals are currently hitting below .200 for the season at .193 while holding opponents to .177, but average fewer kills than their opponents scoring 12.7 per set and allowing 13.2.

Thunderbirds vs Bengals Part One

Southern Utah hosted Idaho State on Oct. 8 in a match that Idaho State won 3-0 (26-24, 25-20, 25-16). In the loss, The Thunderbirds held Idaho State below a .200 hitting percentage in the first two frames and nearly stole the first frame on the strength of four kills by Ryen Smith and a late 4-0 run. Click for full match recap and box score.

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