CHENEY, Wash. — Eastern Washington put together a spirited effort on Wednesday night inside Reese Court but ultimately fell in straight sets to Idaho, 0–3 (20-25, 21-25, 25-27).
"It was a tough loss tonight," said head coach
Jon Haruguchi. "It truly shows the margins are so small and we have to execute our game plan better. We will dissect the film and get back to work on Monday."
The rivalry match featured long rallies and plenty of energy from both sides, with the Eagles pushing the Vandals to the brink in the third set before Idaho was able to sneak away with the sweep. Offensively, EWU finished with 31 kills and 9 aces, showing flashes of strong execution from the service line. Defensively, the Eagles stood tall at the net, recording 11 blocks to outpace Idaho's 8, and worked hard in the back row to keep rallies alive.
Individually,
Kalista Lukovich led the attack with 13 kills and 3 aces, while
Elle Bruegman anchored the defense with 20 digs. The Eagles also saw contributions across the board, as several players chipped in key blocks and kills during momentum swings. While Idaho held the statistical edge in kills with 46 and leaned on a balanced offensive attack, Eastern's determination kept every set close and showcased the team's fight against a tough conference opponent. Despite the result, the Eagles' competitive energy and resilience were on full display, and they will look to build on that foundation as Big Sky play continues.
Up Next
The Eagles will hit the road to take on Weber State on Thursday, Oct. 9 at 5 p.m. PST, in Ogden, Utah then Idaho State pm Saturday, Oct. 11 at 1 p.m., PST in Pocatello, Idaho.
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ABOUT EASTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS
Eastern Washington University Athletics sponsors 14 intercollegiate sports, six for men and eight for women, both as learning opportunities for its most athletically talented students and as an enhancement to student and community life. Eastern is affiliated with Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and is a member of the Big Sky Conference, an association of 10 regional schools with comparable enrollments and academic goals.
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