Coming off back-to-back losses in the Vandal Volleyball Invitational, the Vandals wanted to start off their trip to Seattle strong on Thursday, Sept. 4, against the Manhattan University Jaspers. Manhattan started the season 1-3, only defeating Houston Christian University in straight sets. This followed a difficult 2024 season, picking up one victory on Sept. 13, 2024. This lone victory was followed by a 22-match losing streak to end the 2024 season for the Jaspers. Both the Vandals and the Jaspers had gone through a rough patch, and this matchup was important for both teams as it was an opportunity to grab a multi-win season after previously being unable to do so.
Manhattan
The first set began with a Manhattan kill, which was quickly countered by back-to-back kills from freshman Kiana Greer. This set was contested closely until the 7-7 mark when Manhattan was able to swing momentum to their side, going on a massive 8-0 run, including four kills and two aces to take the lead 15-7. Amazingly for the Vandals, the momentum swung like a pendulum, and the Vandals were able to respond with their own 8-1 run, closing the gap to 16-15. Despite this massive swing of momentum, the Vandals were unable to capitalize as Manhattan broke away with a three-point 18-15 lead and maintained this lead for a 25-22 set victory. Greer led the set with seven kills, which included a run of three consecutive kills.
Although Idaho would get the first two points, Manhattan took control of the second set with an 11-8 lead. Nonetheless, this was Manhattan's biggest lead of the set as Idaho went on an 8-1 run to take the lead 16-12. This run had three aces from Idaho, but also notably, Manhattan committed four errors in this run, aiding the Vandals to win set two 25-23. This was Idaho's sixth set victory, which ties last year's total from the whole season. Chiara Gennari led the set with four kills. Fourteen of Idaho's points in this set came from Manhattan errors.
In the third set, Manhattan came out strong, grabbing a 10-6 lead with eight kills and an ace. Idaho responded with a 4-0 run to tie the set 10-10 with two kills and an ace. The Vandals ended the set with another 9-2 run to win the set 25-18.
In the fourth set, Manhattan again came out with a lead 4-1; however, this lead was quickly cut by Idaho as the Vandals tied the set 6-6 in a 5-2 run that had two kills from Greer. After a kill from Gabi Smith, the Vandals got their first lead of the set, 7-6. The Vandals and the Jaspers were trading runs with the set being tied 16-16. Despite this close battle, the Vandals were able to break off a 9-2 run and take the set 25-18 and match 3-1. This was the Vandals' second win of the season, the first time that can be said since 2022. Greer led the match in kills with 19. She also had 11 digs, getting her third double-double of the year. In her debut, Aleina Manaois got 32 assists in three sets. Koen Makaula led the team in blocks with five.
Seattle University
After a triumphant victory, Idaho was set to face the Seattle University Redhawks on Friday, Sept. 9. Seattle had started the season off strong with a 3-1 record, including a victory over Big Sky opponent Portland State University. Seattle looked to continue their winning ways against the Idaho Vandals.
The first set was contested tightly as Idaho had a 10-7 lead at the start of the set. This included three kills from junior Cayton White. This lead was short-lived, as Seattle went on a dominant 11-1 run, which had four kills and three aces from the Redhawks. This gave Seattle an 18-11 lead. Despite this comfortable lead, Idaho would find a way to rally and tie with their own 11-4 run, in which Greer had four kills. After the run, the set was tied 22-22, and Seattle was able to get back-to-back points to force a double set point. Not deterred, Idaho would tie the set again 24-24 with a kill and a Seattle error. Seattle, though, grabbed the lead from an Idaho attack error and on the third set point took the victory in the first set 26-24. Greer led the set with six kills.
The second set again started close with a 9-9 tie at the midway point of the set. This start was helped by two kills each from Gennari and Greer. Over the course of the set, Idaho took the lead and maintained a small lead up until the 17-16 point of the set. Finally, the Vandals broke away from the Redhawks with a set winning 8-2 run to win the set 25-18. White had three kills during the run, and Greer led the set with six kills.
The third set began with an Idaho 9-5 run, diversifying the Vandal attack as five players got a kill during this run. The lead was then eventually extended to five points as Idaho led 14-9 with Gabi Smith having three kills. Seattle answered, though, with an 8-3 run in which the Redhawks had three kills and were aided by five Idaho errors to tie the set 17-17. Idaho rebutted with their own 8-4 run to win the set 25-21. Smith and White both led the set with three kills as Idaho looked to put away the match in the fourth set.
The fourth set began with a mighty Idaho 8-2 lead, Seattle answered back, though, with an 8-2 run of their own with four kills and an ace to tie the set 10-10. After a lot of back and forth, the set was tied 22-22. Seattle was able to get back-to-back points from an error and an ace to force a double set point. Though Idaho was able to pull one back with a kill from Koen Makaula, a Seattle kill forced a deciding set.
The fifth and deciding set began strongly for the Vandals, taking a 5-1 lead with three kills from White. Seattle was not going down easily, though, as the Redhawks rallied back to tie the set 9-9 with six kills. Idaho regained the lead with a 4-2 run to make it 13-11, one point away from match point. Seattle was not concerned, as they got three consecutive kills to force a match point at 14-13. Idaho was unable to stop this surge as a service ace would end the match with a Seattle victory 3-2.
This loss is particularly frustrating as Idaho scored more points, 110-105, and had a better hitting percentage, 0.247 to 0.204, but were unable to win. Despite being better in most statistical categories, the Vandals were unable to perform down the stretch, and it cost them this match. Greer led Idaho in kills again with 18, and White trailed her with 17. Manaois would get 50 assists in this match.
California State University, Fullerton
Looking to regroup, the Vandals faced a familiar foe in the California State, Fullerton Titans, the only non-conference team that the Vandals faced twice this year. Fullerton was 3-2 going into this matchup, with one of their victories being against Idaho in five sets. Idaho looked to flip the story on the Titans with a win to cap off their Seattle trip.
The first set was closely contested as it was tied 13-13 at the halfway point of the set, with Vandal Sarah Sullivan leading in kills with four. The battle would continue with Idaho getting a 19-17 lead, including four kills from Makaula in that span. Idaho again struggled down the final stretch of a set with an 8-4 Fullerton run, winning the set 25-23. Makaula would lead the Vandals in kills for the set with five kills.
The second set went much differently for the Vandals as they started with a 12-5 lead in the set with three kills from Gennari and four attack errors from the Titans. Idaho maintained a dominant lead over the course of the set, withstanding a 6-2 Fullerton rally and winning the set by nine points, 25-16. Gennari led the set with six kills, and Sullivan also had five kills over the course of the set.
The third set again started with Idaho dominance, leading 11-5 with five Idaho kills, but also benefited from Fullerton committing five attack errors in this beginning stretch. Continuing this dominance, Idaho extended the six-point lead eventually into a seven-point lead at 20-13 in the set with Gennari grabbing four kills over the set. A massive Fullerton push would be the response, eventually turning into a 7-2 rally to close the gap to only a 22-20 Vandal lead. This push ended up unsuccessful as the Vandals took the set 25-21 with Gennari getting another kill to bring her total for the set to five.
The fourth set started off with an Idaho 4-0 lead. After pushing the lead to 6-2, this led the Vandals to their largest loss of the set as Fullerton took full control, going on a colossal 17-5 run to take a 19-11 lead in the set as Idaho's attack struggled in this set. Idaho slowed the surge of points, eventually trading points, but being so far down, Idaho wasn't going to win the set doing that, as Fullerton took the set by nine points to win 25-16 and bring the match to a deciding set.
The deciding set began tight, being 8-8 at the halfway point, with seven of Fullerton's points coming from kills. Idaho also had six kills, plus an ace in the beginning half of the fifth set. Idaho broke the 8-8 tie with three consecutive kills to make the score 11-8 in favor of the Vandals. Those three kills were part of a larger 5-0 run Idaho had going with three kills from Gennari and two from Sullivan in that span. Despite this strong run, Fullerton turned on the jets, pulling together a decisive 7-1 run to win the set 15-12, including three consecutive kills from Fullerton player Kaia Herweg. Fullerton won both matchups versus Idaho in a similar comeback fashion, 3-2.
After the Seattle U Tournament, it has become apparent that the Vandals volleyball team this year has improved from prior years, already getting multiple wins and winning 12 sets this year, double what they had last year. There has been a lot of improvement, especially from the freshmen, with Greer leading the team with 69 kills and Manaois with 139 assists in just three matches.
However, there is still some work to do as the Vandals struggle to close out leads so far this year, being 1-3 when leading 2-1 after three sets. Despite this struggle, the attack has been playing inspired volleyball, and it will be entertaining to watch this team grow over the course of the year.
The next tournament the Vandals will compete in is the North Dakota State University and University of North Dakota tournament from Sept. 11-13 in North Dakota, against North Dakota State University, University of Texas, San Antonio and the University of North Dakota.