News Story - Idaho State Journal

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POCATELLO -- Never mind that Idaho State and conference foe Eastern Washington were locked in a nail-biting tussle.

As Brenda Cooper soared into the air and repelled Eagles spikes time and again Saturday, her Bengals teammate Britta Bartschi couldn't help but pause and admire her exploits.

"She dominated," said Bartschi, a sophomore middle blocker. "She just takes charge out there on blocking. She took care of it."

Spearheaded by a sparkling effort from Cooper, Idaho State mustered what players and coach Chad Teichert called its finest defensive effort of the year and stifled Eastern Washington 25-19, 25-19, 28-26 at Reed Gym for its first conference win.

The Bengals' front row repeatedly stuffed the Eagles' hitters, and when it didn't, the back row conjured up one improbable dig after another to keep points alive. Buttressed by defensive specialist Jenna Proost's return from injury, Idaho State toppled an Eastern Washington team that finished third in the Big Sky last year and earlier this season stretched No. 17 Colorado State to five sets.

"It's great," Cooper said. "It means we can take on everything that's coming ahead, and we're fired up."

Cooper and Bartschi set the tone early, tipping one spike after another in the first set. They combined for a solo and two assisted blocks, and Cooper scored the final point of the set by slamming an Eagles attack back in their court.

It was more of the same in the second set. The Bengals (3-9, 1-1 Big Sky) looked dead on two separate points but mustered digs that appeared to come out of nowhere to extend each rally and eventually earn the side-out.

"It helps us so much," Cooper said. "We can get down, and someone's got to step up, and when they do, it's awesome. It just brings everyone right along with them. It's a great momentum booster."

Sophomore Sarah Carson then did her best Cooper impersonation after substituting in for Bartschi in the third set. In quick succession, she nailed a kill and had two assisted blocks to help Idaho State pull away.

But of course, it was another of Cooper's blocks that gave Idaho State a 23-20 lead, and the Bengals sealed it several back-and-forth rallies later.

"We just encouraged each other, and we stuck by each other's side and said we were going to do it," Bartschi said. "We were going to get it done."

While Proost managed just a so-so total of six digs, the Bengals were quick to highlight her contribution. The return of Proost, who missed Idaho State's previous two-game tournament at Utah Valley with lingering shin splints, freed freshman outside hitter Emily Beardmore from playing in the back row.

Proost added an exclamation point to her return with an unlikely dig in the third set that turned yet another surefire point for Eastern Washington (4-7, 1-1) in Idaho State's favor.

"It's just a better situation when she's there," Teichert said. "Everything's better. Practice is better when she's there."

Saturday's match marked the first time since the 2006 season that Idaho State has beaten a conference opponent other than perennial Big Sky doormat Montana State.

With their new-look defense, the Bengals have fired a warning they're no longer the same Bengals that went 2-14 in Big Sky play last year.

"There's kind of a mix-up in our conference this year," Cooper said. "We wanted to come out with our 'A' game. We wanted to show up and show what we really had."

By Kelvin ang

This document was originally published online on Sunday, September 21, 2008

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