Volleyball to Host the Vandals

After a strong performance in the Gonzaga University Tournament, the volleyball team will close out their 4-game homestand against the University of Idaho. It has been a tough start to the season for the Bulldogs, but they showed some signs of improvement last weekend, when they went 2-1. Their solid play in the Gonzaga Univeristy Tournament improved their record to 4-7. Following the match, the ladies will travel to the University of Pittsburgh, for their longest road-trip of the year.

The great play of Elaina Renius and Denise Van De Mortel has been a constant for the Bulldogs this season. Both were named to the All- Tournament team this past weekend, and for Van De Mortel, it marked the second straight tournament that she had been named to the All-Tournament team. The trio of Layne Brosky, Caitlin Cozad, and Emily Johnson were terrific as well, as all three recorded double-digit kills during the tournament.

The University of Idaho comes into the match boasting an impressive 7-3 record. The Vandals posted a 2-2 record this past weekend, when they competed in the Portland State Volleyball Classic. After dropping their first two matches, they were able to recover, and defeat UC Riverside and Portland State in their final two matches. Haley Larsen leads Idaho, as she averages an impressive 4.46 kills per set.

The last two meetings between these teams have seen GU came out with the victory, and the ladies will certainly be looking to make it three in a row. This weekend will see the Lady Zags competing in the University of Pittsburgh tournament. They will go up against the University of Pittsburgh and VCU on Friday, and Eastern Michigan on Saturday. This is an important stretch of games, as the team will be looking to get on the right track prior to beginning their conference schedule. The WCC will be one of the top conferences in the country, so the ladies will need to be at their best for conference play.