MOSCOW, Idaho - After going 2-1 to open its season at the Nike Cougar Invitational in Pullman last weekend, the Idaho volleyball team faces another challenging task. The Vandals will face Santa Clara and Pacific at the Community Bankers Classic in Stockton, Calif., hosted by Pacific on Sept. 2 and 3.
The Vandals are led redshirt-freshman Allison Walker and sophomore Jenny Feicht. Walker ranks second in the Western Athletic Conference with 5.3 kills per game after smashing 53 kills last weekend. Feicht ranks fourth in the conference with 10.8 assists per game.
After an exciting 3-0 sweep of rival Washington State to wrap up the tournament, the Vandals have remained focused on the task ahead, which is getting ready for their first true road trip of the season.
"We're back to business, it's one match at a time, and I felt like we were focused today on the right things and understanding what that next step is," Idaho coach Debbie Buchanan said.
Santa Clara brings a 2-1 record into the Community Bankers Classic with wins over Fresno State and UC Riverside and a loss to Oregon. The Broncos return five starters and 11 letterwinners from their 17-12 season in 2009. Santa Clara edged Idaho 3-1 in 2009, winning two of three sets by just two points. The Broncos own a 4-1 all-time record against Idaho.
"I think they're going to be good," Buchanan said of Santa Clara. "We played them last year and we were right there with them. We know they're good, that coach has been there a long time and has a good team year in and year out."
Pacific, a former Big West foe of Idaho, owns a 13-3 advantage in the all-time series against the Vandals. The Tigers are led by first-year head coach Greg Gibbons. Pacific went 2-1 in the season's opening weekend, with wins over Texas A&M and Sienna and a loss to No. 23 LSU. The teams will be meeting for the first time since 2004, Idaho's last season in the Big West, when Idaho and Pacific split a pair of matches, each team winning at home.
Fans can follow all the action from both matches live online via GameTracker at www.pacifictigers.com. Both matches are scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.
"I think with this being only two games on the road instead of a tournament where you have a morning game, this should be a little easier," Buchanan said. "I think we just need to keep playing people. Work on a few things, then it's back to the drawing board of competition and mental preparation."
The Vandals will be in Memorial Gym for their home opener against Cal Poly on Sept. 9, and also host Eastern Washington on Sept. 10 and Montana State on Sept. 12.
