Boise State Rallies Past Wyoming to Sweep Idaho Classic
Broncos dropped a five-setter to the Cowgirls before sweeping Pacific and Idaho State to close preseason.
Key points
- Boise State women’s volleyball finished the Idaho Classic with a 2-1 record, sweeping Pacific and Idaho State after a 3-2 loss to Wyoming.
- Setter Tehya Maeva recorded a career-high 31 assists in the Wyoming match, while freshman Azlynn Tittmann posted 15 kills.
- The Broncos enter Pac-12 play with a 7-8 record, aiming to carry their offensive momentum into a Thursday match against Gonzaga.
The gym floor in Pocatello hummed with the friction of rubber soles gripping hardwood as Boise State women’s volleyball navigated a tense five-set battle against Wyoming. The Orange and Black Classic opened with a grind, the Broncos falling 3-2 in a match defined by 19 tied scores and eight lead changes. It was a physical, breathless start that tested the roster’s composure before they found their rhythm.
Despite the opening loss, the team seized control of the weekend. Setter Tehya Maeva dished out 31 assists, a career high, while freshman Azlynn Tittmann struck with 15 kills. The Broncos traded blows with the Cowgirls, losing the fifth set 15-8, but the offensive distribution had taken shape. They left Pocatello with two straight wins, sweeping Pacific and Idaho State to cap a seven-and-eight record entering conference play.
Trading blows in five sets
Wyoming struck first in set one, stringing together back-to-back kills that forced Boise State to scramble. Tittmann answered with two consecutive service aces to tie the score at 8-8, but the Cowgirls maintained a six-point lead to close the set 25-20. The Broncos regrouped in the second, with middle blocker Athena Cox dominating the net. She recorded three blocks in that set, finishing the match with a career-high five, fueling a 25-16 comeback for the Broncos.
Momentum shifted again in the third set. Freshman Savannah Sheridan served an ace to push Boise State to a 10-5 lead, though Wyoming clawed back to 11-11. The Broncos pulled away for a 25-21 win, setting the stage for a fourth-set war. Kendall Hastings, Sydney Dreves, and Tittmann traded kills to seize control, with Hastings hitting at a .619 clip. She finished with a career-high 14 kills, sending the match to a decider.
Sweeping Pacific and Idaho State
On the second day, the Pacific Tigers raced to an early four-point lead, but Boise State answered with relentless pressure. Maeva continued to orchestrate the offense, posting 23 assists, while libero Melia Barlow and Dreves each added three service aces. The Broncos out-killed the Tigers 45-34, securing a 3-0 victory that steadied the team’s footing after the Wyoming loss.
The final match against Idaho State carried weight, as the Bengals had previously beaten the Broncos in ExtraMile Arena. Boise State struggled early in the first set but found an explosive offensive rhythm. Dreves and Tittmann each tallied 15 digs, anchoring a tight 3-0 win that avenged the earlier setback. Head Coach Shawn Garus noted the value of the playing time, while the players emphasized the mental grit required to bounce back from a tough loss.
Confidence heading into Pac-12
The tournament served as a critical calibration for the roster. Tittmann highlighted the team’s offensive distribution, noting that the varied attacks kept opponents off balance. Dreves echoed this sentiment, pointing to the mental strength displayed in fighting back from deficits. The Broncos now turn their attention to Gonzaga, with their first Pac-12 conference match scheduled for Thursday in ExtraMile Arena. As reported by arbiteronline.com, the preseason work has translated into a confident posture for conference play.
