Weber State University Athletics
Friday, September 30
Pocatello, ID
7:00 PM
Weber State University
at
Idaho State
Photo by: Robert Casey
GAME NOTES: Wildcats, Bengals Renew Rivalry in Pocatello
9/29/2022 2:37:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Match 14: Weber State (7-6) at Idaho State (9-6)
Friday, September 30 | 7:00 PM
Pocatello, ID | Reed Gym
TV Stream: ESPN+
Radio Stream: https://bit.ly/3SIXdKp
Live Stats: https://bit.ly/3SqKdcr
Weber State and Idaho State renew their rivalry on Friday, September 30 in Reed Gym in Pocatello, Idaho.
THE MATCHES
• Weber State and Idaho State renew their rivalry this Friday after both teams went 1-1 in the opening weekend of Big Sky Conference play.
• The Wildcats swept the Bengals last season with a 3-0 win in Ogden, and another 3-0 win in Pocatello.
• In Thursday's match against UVU, Weber State will be playing in its seventh consecutive match away from home - its longest such stretch of the season.
• Weber State is 7-3 in its last 10 matches against the Bengals, but the 'Cats are 26-30 all-time playing in Pocatello.
• The Wildcats haven't lost a set to Idaho State since November of 2019, and haven't lost a match against the Bengals since 2018.
QUICK HITS
• Weber State has won back-to-back Big Sky Conference championships, including the 2020-21 conference tournament. Over the past two championship seasons, the Wildcats went 41-12 overall and 28-4 in conference play. In 2021, the team advanced to the quarterfinals of the NIVC, and in 2020-21 the Wildcats won the first NCAA tournament match in program history.
• Dani Richins was named the 2021 Big Sky Conference MVP, and was named an All-American for the second time in her career.
• The Wildcats hosted the Big Sky Conference tournament for the first time in program history in 2021. They advanced to the championship match for the third consecutive season.
• After having claimed the 2021 Big Sky regular season championship in 2021, Weber State also claimed the right to host the 2022 Big Sky Conference championship.
• The Wildcats were picked No. 2 in the Big Sky preseason polls, receiving two first-place votes.
• The Wildcat defense is leading the way in the Big Sky Conference and is number one in opponent hitting percentage (.170), blocking (2.56/set), and second in digging (15.54/set).
CAREER MILESTONES
• With her first dig in last Saturday's match against NAU, Makayla Sorensen became the 13th Wildcat to join the 1,000-Dig Club. She's just 38 kills away from ranking in the top 10 for most career digs in school history.
• Dani Richins' storied career marches on as she rises up the Wildcat record books. Richins currently ranks in the top 10 in school history in kills (1,227), kills per set (3.39), attacks (3,493), and aces (143).
FANTASTIC FRESHMEN
• The Wildcats most recent recruiting class is one of the most highly-touted in school history, and several fantastic freshman are already making big impacts.
• Saane Katoa was named Big Sky Conference Defensive Player of the Week in the opening week of the season. She tallied 19.0 blocks in the Wildcat Invitational - a tournament that Weber State went 3-0 in.
• When the Wildcats have needed a clutch kill, they've turned to true freshman Ashley Gneiting. Gneiting - who has scored crucial set and match-clinching kills several times this season - has led the team in kills in four matches this season.
• Brielle Rueckert has proven to be a viable weapon in the Wildcat offense hitting .409 on over 60 attempts, and has led the team in blocking in three different matches this season.
Friday, September 30 | 7:00 PM
Pocatello, ID | Reed Gym
TV Stream: ESPN+
Radio Stream: https://bit.ly/3SIXdKp
Live Stats: https://bit.ly/3SqKdcr
Weber State and Idaho State renew their rivalry on Friday, September 30 in Reed Gym in Pocatello, Idaho.
THE MATCHES
• Weber State and Idaho State renew their rivalry this Friday after both teams went 1-1 in the opening weekend of Big Sky Conference play.
• The Wildcats swept the Bengals last season with a 3-0 win in Ogden, and another 3-0 win in Pocatello.
• In Thursday's match against UVU, Weber State will be playing in its seventh consecutive match away from home - its longest such stretch of the season.
• Weber State is 7-3 in its last 10 matches against the Bengals, but the 'Cats are 26-30 all-time playing in Pocatello.
• The Wildcats haven't lost a set to Idaho State since November of 2019, and haven't lost a match against the Bengals since 2018.
QUICK HITS
• Weber State has won back-to-back Big Sky Conference championships, including the 2020-21 conference tournament. Over the past two championship seasons, the Wildcats went 41-12 overall and 28-4 in conference play. In 2021, the team advanced to the quarterfinals of the NIVC, and in 2020-21 the Wildcats won the first NCAA tournament match in program history.
• Dani Richins was named the 2021 Big Sky Conference MVP, and was named an All-American for the second time in her career.
• The Wildcats hosted the Big Sky Conference tournament for the first time in program history in 2021. They advanced to the championship match for the third consecutive season.
• After having claimed the 2021 Big Sky regular season championship in 2021, Weber State also claimed the right to host the 2022 Big Sky Conference championship.
• The Wildcats were picked No. 2 in the Big Sky preseason polls, receiving two first-place votes.
• The Wildcat defense is leading the way in the Big Sky Conference and is number one in opponent hitting percentage (.170), blocking (2.56/set), and second in digging (15.54/set).
CAREER MILESTONES
• With her first dig in last Saturday's match against NAU, Makayla Sorensen became the 13th Wildcat to join the 1,000-Dig Club. She's just 38 kills away from ranking in the top 10 for most career digs in school history.
• Dani Richins' storied career marches on as she rises up the Wildcat record books. Richins currently ranks in the top 10 in school history in kills (1,227), kills per set (3.39), attacks (3,493), and aces (143).
FANTASTIC FRESHMEN
• The Wildcats most recent recruiting class is one of the most highly-touted in school history, and several fantastic freshman are already making big impacts.
• Saane Katoa was named Big Sky Conference Defensive Player of the Week in the opening week of the season. She tallied 19.0 blocks in the Wildcat Invitational - a tournament that Weber State went 3-0 in.
• When the Wildcats have needed a clutch kill, they've turned to true freshman Ashley Gneiting. Gneiting - who has scored crucial set and match-clinching kills several times this season - has led the team in kills in four matches this season.
• Brielle Rueckert has proven to be a viable weapon in the Wildcat offense hitting .409 on over 60 attempts, and has led the team in blocking in three different matches this season.
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
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/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
L/OH
/ Women's VolleyballWeber State vs. Portland State
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Weber State Volleyball In-Depth | Episode 17: Jayda Tupea
Tuesday, October 07
Weber State vs. Idaho State | 10-3-25
Friday, October 03