BUSTER’S WEEKLY ROUNDUP: Boise State Athletics Update (Oct. 9 – Oct. 16)

Here’s what is happening in Boise State Athletics…

FOOTBALL

Boise State gave up a 20 point lead to Colorado State 31-30 last Saturday, Oct. 14. 

The Broncos were up 30-10 with 6:12 to play in the fourth quarter. After a 14 point run with six seconds left, the Rams were in position to throw the game tying hail mary touchdown, and they did.

After an extra point from Jordan Noyes, the Rams walked off the field with their first win over Boise State (3-4, 2-1 Mountain West) ever.

Read more about the game here.

VOLLEYBALL

The Broncos faced the red-hot Utah State Aggies and San Jose State Spartans for a week of great play, a great win and a tragic loss. 

The Broncos faced a powerful Utah State team on Oct. 10, and fell to the Aggies in four sets (3-1). 

Though the Broncos seemed to be having a comeback after winning the third set after being down 19-12, their efforts were not enough for the top Mountain West team. 

Paige Bartsch led the Broncos for the 17th match this season with double-figure kills on a team-high 18 to go with team-highs in service aces with two. Bartsh also racked up 14 digs and three block assists.

Setter Noelani Helm had a double-double on a team-best 36 assists while middle blocker Chey Day recorded her first career match with double-digit kills, finishing with a team-second-best 12 kills and a team-best .435 hitting percentage.

The team then traveled to San Jose to face San Jose State. 

The Broncos were able to come back swinging and take down the Spartans in three straight sets and secure the 3-0 win. 

Bartsch again led the team and finished with a team-high 14 kills, one service ace, nine digs and one block assist.

To go along with Bartsch’s performance, outside hitter Anabel Kotzakov followed with nine kills, one ace, nine digs, one block solo and 11 points.

Freshman Bridey O’Connor had a breakout match, tallying a season-high eight kills while hitting a team-high .316 percent.

The Broncos now sit with a 10-8 overall and 6-2 in the Mountain West, the Broncos will be on the road again to face San Diego State on Oct. 21.

MENS GOLF

Junior Ryan Meyer put up his best finish as a Bronco, leading the men’s golf team to a seventh-place finish at the Oregon State Invitational, Tuesday, Oct. 10.

The whole team played well too. Following Meyer’s performance at +6 was Cole Rueck (+8), Gavyn Knight (+9), Will O’Connor (+10) and Drew Reinke (+10).

Rueck and O’connor carded the best rounds on the day at 2-under 69 in the first and third rounds.

Up next, the men’s golf team closes out the fall season at the Ka’anapali Classic Collegiate on Oct. 27-29 in Ka’anapali, Hawaii. 

SOCCER

The Boise State soccer team went undefeated on the week with a win against San Jose State (1-0) as well as Fresno State (2-1). 

Bronco goalkeeper Genevieve Crenshaw had herself a night against San Jose State on Oct. 12, as she garnered four saves in the half to earn her 18th clean sheet, tying the program record for career shutouts.Bronco goalkeeper Genevieve Crenshaw

“What a journey Birdie (Genevieve Crenshaw) has been on,” head coach Jim Thomas said. “For her to have done it as quickly as she has is amazing. She’s been so committed to her team, not really caring about her personal stats and just doing what her team needs is something we’ll forever value.”

Junior forward Kenzie MacMillan had the lone goal on the night and led the Broncos to its first shutout in Mountain West play.

The Broncos kept the momentum going as they defeated Fresno State (2-1) on Oct. 15, clinching a spot in the 2023 Mountain West tournament.

Carly Cross and MacMillan scored the two goals to elevate the Broncos to the win over Fresno State.

The Broncos now sit with a 8-1-6 overall record and  6-1-1 record in the Mountain West, with three regular season games left in the season, the Broncos have been gearing up for the big games.

The win over Fresno State gave the Broncos a guaranteed spot in the Mountain West tournament.

“It feels good to be going back to the tournament,” Thomas said. “We’ve worked really hard to correct something we did really wrong last year and I’m happy that these guys are going to get to experience the coolest thing in our season.”

Boise State now sits with a 8-2-6 overall record and 6-1-1 in Mountain West play. The Broncos will return to the Boas Sports Complex to host their second to last home game against the University of Nevada, Reno on Thursday, Oct. 19.

After her incredible two goal performance, MacMillan landed herself another Mountain West honor as the Offensive Player of the Week. 

MEN’S BASKETBALL

The votes are in and Boise State men’s basketball has been predicted to finish second in the Mountain West for the 2023-24 season

The Broncos tallied 299 points in the preseason poll including four first-place votes. Boise State was picked second behind national champion runner-ups San Diego State.

Broncos junior forward Tyson Degenhart also turned some heads as he was voted to the Preseason All-Mountain West team, making him the only forward selected to the preseason. 

After averaging 15.1 points per game, 5.2 rebounds per game and shooting 59.3% from the field in conference games last season, there was no doubt that Degenhart deserves the honor.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Mountain West preseason honors were rolling in for the Lady Broncos. 

Senior forward Abby Muse, earned a place on the 2023-24 Preseason All-Mountain West Team.

Muse’s terrific 2022-2023 season was one for the books, there is no doubt that the basketball star deserved this recognition. 

The reigning MW Defensive Player of the Year averaged 9.1 points, 8.7 rebounds and a league-high 2.8 blocks per game in the 2022-23 season. She also became the program’s all-time leader in career blocks (171) and single-season blocks (93) last season, and was one of only six players nationally to have blocked eight or more shots in a single game.

To go along with Muse, Boise State was also picked to finish fourth in the league’s preseason poll, as voted on by head coaches and select media members.

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