Braxton Gregory
Sports Editor
The Idaho State volleyball team has completed one of its most memorable seasons in program history, finishing 21-10 overall and securing its first postseason appearance since 2013. The Bengals, once at the bottom of the Big Sky Conference, have cemented themselves as a rising force under head coach Sean Carter. They posted their best record since 2015 and finished second in the regular-season standings.
The 2024 campaign was filled with milestones. Idaho State’s 11-5 mark in conference play was its best in nearly a decade, and the team’s first Big Sky Tournament victory since 2018—a thrilling 3-1 win over Northern Arizona—showcased the resilience and determination that defined this year’s squad.
“This team has worked incredibly hard to change the trajectory of our program,” Carter said via Ryan Cheney of ISU Sports Information. “When we took over, we were at the bottom of the league. Now, we’re competing at a high level and earning postseason opportunities. I couldn’t be prouder.”
Idaho State’s success earned them an invitation to the National Invitational Volleyball Championship (NIVC), marking a full-circle moment for Athletic Director Pauline Thiros, who was a player on ISU’s last NIVC team in 1994.
“It’s a full-circle moment for me,” Thiros wrote on X. “The last time Idaho State Volleyball went to the NIVC, I was a player. Love this team just as much as I loved my team in 1994!”
The Bengals faced off against Wyoming in the first round of the NIVC and put up a strong fight before falling 3-1. Despite the loss, the team proved they belonged on the national stage and left a lasting impression with their dominant defense, ranking first in the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) in total blocks (364) and third in blocks per set (2.96). Sophomore Jaydin Watts and junior Marci Bell anchored the team’s front line, each finishing in the nation’s top 20 in total blocks – making ISU one of only two programs in the country with multiple players in the top 55.
Several seniors left their names in the Idaho State record books. Sadie Bluth finished ninth in program history for kills with 1,148 and seventh in total attacks with 3,448, while setter Aliyah Sopo’aga ranked eighth in career assists with 2,237. Defensively, Asiah Sopo’aga moved to fourth all-time in digs with 1,473, and outside hitter Jamie Streit capped off her Bengal tenure with over 1,000 career kills.
“Our senior class played a huge role in our resurgence,” Carter said, per Cheney. “They helped bring this program back to relevance, and their impact will be felt for years to come.”
As the program celebrates this breakthrough season, the foundation for future success is already in place. With key returners like Watts and Bell set to lead the charge, the Bengals have their sights set on even greater achievements in 2025.
“I believe our future is even brighter,” Carter said. “This is just the beginning.”
Idaho State fans rallied behind their team all season, and with a renewed sense of excitement surrounding the program, the Bengals will look to build on this momentum in the coming years. For a team that started from the bottom, the journey back to prominence is well underway.
