MOSCOW, Idaho - The University of Idaho volleyball team dropped its first home match of the Western Athletic Conference season in a sweep by #3 Hawai'i Saturday at Memorial Gym.
Hawai'i (25-2, 15-0) held Idaho (14-14, 10-5) to 25 kills and a .079 hitting percentage to win with sets scores of 25-12, 25-15 and 25-21. The Vandals totaled 10 blocks and five aces, but the Rainbow Wahine racked up 47 kills and hit .340 with 49 digs.
"We were a little flat tonight. I understand Hawai'i is good, but at the same time we need to make sure we show up and play to our level and execute. One area we do have control over is our passing and that is one area where we really struggled tonight. Hawai'i definitely is a good team, but we could have competed a little more."
Sarah Conwell led the Vandals with seven kills and seven digs and added three blocks and Debbie Pederson finished with five kills and three blocks while hitting .308. Meredith Rice totaled 16 of Idaho's 37 digs while Anna McKinney tallied six blocks and Kelsey Taylor finished with five blocks.
Idaho scored the first point of the set one, but Hawai'i took 12 of the next 13 to build a 10-point lead. Hawai'i's largest lead of the set came at 21-8 before the 25-12 victory.
Idaho again scored first in set two and built a 4-1 lead, however Hawai'i scored six-consecutive points to move ahead 7-4. The Vandals cut the margin to 7-6, but the Rainbow Wahine eventually moved ahead 16-9. Idaho would come no closer than 16-12 as Hawai'i cruised to the 25-15 win in set two.
The Vandals came out with a different look in set three and battled the Rainbow Wahine to seven ties and four lead changes. Hawai'i moved ahead for good at 8-7, but Idaho remained within five points throughout the remainder of the set. The Rainbow Wahine took the set with a 25-21 set three victory.
Idaho's loss coupled with New Mexico State's victory at Fresno State Saturday means the Vandals officially finish third in the 2009 WAC standings and will face the yet-to-be-determined sixth seed at the WAC Tournament.
The Vandals will play their final game of the regular season vs. Boise State Thursday (Nov. 19) at Memorial Gym.
