Broncos Outlast Rebels

Thursday, October 23

Boise, Idaho

6 p.m.

Boise State

14-6,6-3Mountain West

UNLV

10-9,4-5Mountain West

UNLV

Boise St.

10/23/2025 11:59:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

BOISE, Idaho – Sixth-year Ari Bilby recorded a season-high 21 kills and Boise State knocked off visiting UNLV 25-22, 24-26, 28-26, 23-25, 15-12 in Mountain West women's volleyball, Thursday night.

Bilby's 21 kills were the most by a Bronco this season. Sophomore Lilli Etter registered career highs in assists (38) and digs (22) and became the first Boise State player to have 30-plus assists and 20-digs in at least 10 years.

Sydney Dreves added a double-double with 12 kills and 14 digs while Layla Smith contributed 16 kills and seven blocks and Eliza Sharp chipped in 14 kills.

Boise State (14-6, 6-3 MW) hit .281, the third time in conference play it has been above .280. The Broncos outblocked the Rebels (10-9, 4-4) 12-9.

In the opening set, the Broncos used a 7-1 lead to open a 24-18 lead. After UNLV staved off four set points, Bilby's sixth kill gave Boise State the early advantage.

The Rebels fell behind 5-2 in the second set before scoring four-straight points to go on top 12-10. Neither team held more than a two-point lead the rest of the way. Kills by Sharp and Bilby tied the set at 24, but back-to-back attack errors by Bilby evened the match at a set apiece.

UNLV jumped out to a 3-0 lead in a third set that featured 13 ties and five lead changes. Jazi Smith tied the set at 19 with a kill and Layla Smith put Boise State ahead 20-19 before she combined with Dreves for back-to-back blocks to stretch the lead to 22-19.

The Rebels clawed back to tie the score 23-23. After the teams traded six points, a kill by Jazi Smith made the score 27-26 Broncos and she combined with Sharp for a block and the set on the fourth try by Boise State. The Broncos hit .378 to match their first set percentage.

In set four, Boise State grabbed a 5-2 lead, but UNLV came back and eventually built a 20-16 advantage. The Broncos scored five of the next six points, capped by a Layla Smith block solo, to pull even at 21. The teams swapped a pair of points, but an error by the Broncos followed and a kill by the Rebels sent the match to a fifth set.

Both teams used a four-point spurt to lead by two in the deciding set and the score was 9-9 before Boise State took the lead for good on a kill by Dreves. A Jazi Smith kill doubled the margin and two kills by Layla Smith sandwiched around a UNLV service error put Boise State on the doorstep of victory.

Bilby capped her best night as a Bronco with a kill that moved Boise State into a three-way tie for third place in the Mountain West.

Top Broncos

Arianna Bilby recorded a season-high 21 kills
Lilli Etter registered career highs in assists (38) and digs (22).
Sydney Dreves notched a double-double with 12 kills and 14 digs.

Quotable
"We took the floor with great energy and intensity from the start. We have to keep the faith, believe in what we are doing and believe in each other. I think there is a lot of parity in the Mountain West." -Boise State Volleyball Head Coach Shawn Garus

Notables

Boise State has won its last four Mountain West home matches that have gone five sets.
Four Broncos had at least a dozen kills.
Boise State is 8-4 all-time at home against UNLV.

What's Next
Boise State hosts San Diego State, Saturday at noon.