PULLMAN, Wash. - The Idaho volleyball team started its season on the right note with a 3-1 win over Weber State to open the Nike Cougar Invitational Friday evening.
After falling 27-25 in the first set, the Vandals rallied for 25-16, 25-18 and 25-22 victories.
Redshirt freshman Allison Walker led the way with 23 kills and a .391 hitting percentage for Idaho, while Alicia Milo tallied 15 kills and 13 digs, Kelsey Taylor notched seven kills and five block assists, and Rylee Walker had six kills and hit .286. Sophomore setter Jenny Feicht had 48 assists in the match and Cassie Hamilton led Idaho with 26 digs.
"It's been one of our team goals to be a scrappy team and get everything up in the air," Walker said of Idaho's resilient play. "It's something we've been working on ever since camp started."
Walker also added four digs, two solo blocks and two block assists in her debut as a Vandal.
"I was hoping to play well," Walker said. "I just came out and tried to not be nervous and to just play the way that I play."
The Vandals hit .190 as a team, and held Weber State to just a .119 hitting percentage.
Weber State was led by Bethany Wray and Emily Jones, who each had 15 kills.
Despite Idaho's youth, with just one senior and a total of 11 freshmen and sophomores on the roster, only two Vandals, Walker and junior transfer Rylee Walker, saw action as a Vandal for the first time.
The tournament continues Saturday as the Vandals take on UC Irvine at noon and Washington State at 7 p.m. Matches are played in WSU's Bohler Gym, and admission to the UC Irvine match is free to the public.
