Vandals Can Fortify Their Position For Postseason Play

If the Idaho volleyball team plans to make some noise in the postseason, it better plan on getting serious.

Coming into this weekend, the unranked Vandals (18-2, 7-1) face their biggest tests since playing Washington State (No. 6 at the time) and Pacific, losing both matches.

Idaho, the Big West Eastern Division leader, heads to Santa Barbara, Calif., Friday to face No. 19 UC Santa Barbara (14-6, 6-2), third in the Big West Western Division behind No. 4 Long Beach State and No. 16 Pacific.

Idaho travels to San Luis Obispo to meet Cal Poly SLO on Saturday. The Mustangs are 11-8, 4-4 in the Western Division.

“How we do there (in California) will determine how we do the rest of the season,” UI coach Tom Hilbert said.

The Vandals have only played UCSB twice, losing both times, most recently in the 1993 NCAA Tournament. All six of the Gauchos’ losses this season have come against ranked opponents.

UCSB is led by freshman Roberta Gehlke, whose 4.44 kills per game are third best in the conference. Cal Poly SLO, 1-1 against UI, is led by sophomore middle blocker Trisha Jensen, who is averaging 3.1 kills. UI’s Jeri Hymas is averaging 3.72 kpg and Beth Craig is right behind at 3.46.

The trip to Santa Barbara will give the Vandals a chance to familiarize themselves with the court, site of this year’s Big West Tournament, Nov. 23-25.

The top four teams from each division will compete in crossover play on the first day (No. 1 vs. 4, No. 2 vs. 3). The title game will be Nov. 25 at 7:30 p.m. with the winner earning an automatic berth in the 32-team NCAA Tournament.

Cougar challenges

Washington State, which remains No. 13 in the USA Today/AVCA Top 25 poll after wins over Arizona and Arizona State, plays host to California on Friday at 7:30 p.m. and No. 3 Stanford on Sunday at noon.

The Pac-10 leading Cardinal (16-1, 9-0) has never lost to WSU in 21 meetings, although the Cougars came close at Bohler Gym last season, taking Stanford to five games. Earlier this season, WSU lost at Stanford in three games.

One of Stanford’s stars, Kerri Walsh, a 6-foot-2 hitter from Saratoga, Calif., was named Pac-10 player of the week last week, after totaling 46 kills (5.75 kills per game), 27 digs and 12 blocks against No. 17 UCLA and No. 12 USC.

Walsh leads the conference in service aces with 29 in 57 games played. She also is fourth in hitting percentage (.371) with teammate Barbara Ifejika next at .368.

Washington State’s Sarah Silvernail, six kills short of tying the Cougars’ record set by Carrie Couturier (1,548), leads the Pac-10 in average kills per game at 5.72.

Cal, which does not have such impressive numbers, is tied for ninth place at 5-12, 1-8. However, the Bears have taken five of their nine conference opponents, including WSU, to five games.

“They’re an awfully scary team,” WSU coach Cindy Fredrick said. “One of these days they’re going to connect on those five-game matches and I don’t want it to be against us.”

Friday’s match will be televised live on Prime Sports Northwest.

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