Sept. 17, 2008

Box Score

SPOKANE, Wash. - The Gonzaga University women's volleyball team battled for five-sets with the University of Idaho and came out on top, winning the decisive fifth set 15-11, to defeat the Vandals for the third-straight season Wednesday evening at the Martin Centre. The Bulldogs, who improved to 5-7 on the season, won 25-23, 13-25, 25-19, 21-25, 15-11. The loss was the fourth of the season for Idaho who is now at 7-4 overall.

Gonzaga had four players finish in double-digs kills in the 3-2 victory. Sophomore Michelle Boevers led the way with a season-tying 16 kills on the night. Senior Elaina Renius had 12 kills for the Zags, her seventh-straight double-figure performance. Junior Emily Johnson added a double-double of 13 kills and 12 digs, and lefty hitter Layne Brosky added 11.

Freshman setter Denise Van de Mortel, who has garnered back-to-back All-Tournament nods over the past two weekends, was again strong for Gonzaga. Van de Mortel dished out 53 assists as the Bulldogs had 61 total kills and a .207 hitting percentage. She also collected 14 digs for her fourth double-double of the season, and second in row.

Senior Paige Dillingham led GU defensively, as the Bulldogs out-dug the Vandals 62-49. Dillingham had a match-high 17 digs.

Haley Larsen, of Idaho, led all players with 22 kills. Larsen added five digs and two block assists. Sarah Loney was the only other Vandal to hit double-digit kills, finishing with 14.

Idaho did control the airwaves, out-blocking Gonzaga 20-9. Debbie Pederson had 11 block assists in the match and one solo block. Anna McKinney had a hand in seven blocks and Sarah Conwell blocked six.

The Vandals finished the match hitting .205. IU had 56 total kills and 24 errors on 156 total attempts.

Gonzaga will play in its final in-season tournament when it travels three times zones to partake in the University of Pittsburgh Tournament this Friday and Saturday. The Bulldogs will face Pittsburgh (10 a.m.) and Virginia Commonwealth University (2 p.m.) for the first time ever on Friday, and then play Eastern Michigan University on Saturday at 8 a.m.