Nevada wins two in a row for first time

By: Damon Harker

Tuesday, October 20, 2009 - 12:55 AM

With a win against Boise State on Thursday, the Nevada won consecutive games for the first time this season. The Wolf Pack, however, lost its next game against Idaho. The loss dropped Nevada’s record to 7-13. The Wolf Pack has 10 matches left before the Western Athletic Conference Tournament begins Nov. 23-25 in Las Vegas. Photo by John Callahan/Nevada Sagebrush

After winning a season-high two games in a row, the volleyball team failed to secure their third-straight win, despite a valiant effort.

On Thursday the Wolf Pack (7-13, 3-4 WAC) hosted Boise State (2-17, 2-5 WAC). After dropping the first set 21-25, the team rallied and won the next three sets to give Nevada a 3-1 victory. Elissa Ji and Lindsay Baldwin both played well, recording 14 and 12 kills respectively.

The Wolf Pack then moved on to its next home game against Idaho (8-11, 4-3 WAC). The crowd, usually in blue, was spotted with pink in honor of Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Awareness Night.

“I’d say we were very confident coming into this game, but unfortunately that didn’t come through,” junior Kylie Harrington said.

The Wolf Pack quickly fell behind, losing a close first set 25-23 and the second set 25-22. After falling behind two sets, the Wolf Pack tried its best to recover, but couldn’t come through when Idaho won the third and final set 25-22. Erin Garvey had a team high of 10 kills while Harrington added nine. Tatiana Santiago also led the team with 21 assists in the loss.

“We have to play them again on Thursday,” Baldwin said. “We know how they play so this practice this week we are going to focus and hopefully come out and beat them.”

Fighting for a spot in the WAC Tournament, Nevada will face off against Idaho next Thursday in Moscow, Idaho. On the road this season, Nevada has not won a game but hopes to bring home a victory. Idaho is one of the top teams in blocks this season so winning in foreign territory will be difficult.

“We play Idaho again next,” head coach Devin Scruggs said. “They know us and we know them; I think they played pretty well but I know we didn’t, so if we can play better than we did tonight it will be a better match on Thursday.”

Damon Harker can be reached at sports@nevadasagebrush.com.