Here is what is happening in Boise State Athletics…
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Bronco Basketball is back!
Boise State’s men’s basketball will host Vanguard University in their 2023-24 season opener this Tuesday, Nov. 7.
The Broncos are returning two All-Mountain West players in Junior Tyson Degenhart and sixth year Max Rice.
Read more about the team’s upcoming season here.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
The women’s basketball team played their final exhibition game before the start of the 2024-24 regular season, defeating The Master’s University 82-58 on Nov. 3.
Five players had ten or more points in the game, led by Trista Hull and Natalie Pasco, scoring 14 a piece.
Hull also recorded a double-double, snagging 10 rebounds.
Up next, the Broncos will tip off their regular season opener against the College of Idaho on Nov. 6 in ExtraMile Arena. The Broncos have an all time record of 15-0 against the Yotes.
FOOTBALL
For the second time in a row, Boise State falls to Fresno State University 30-37, likely ending their Mountain West Championship hopes.
The Broncos are 4-5 on the season and 3-2 in the MWC.
In another game where Boise State’s offense outgained the opponents in yards, it was special teams that gave up a kick six that would ultimately decide the fate of the game.
Read more about the game here.
Just two days after the loss, lead wide receiver Eric McAlister entered the transfer portal and will no longer be a part of the Bronco football team.
MEN’S TENNIS
Men’s tennis wrapped up the 2023 season in style, with a combined team record of 17-7 at Southern Methodist University’s (SMU) Ralston/Neufeld Coaches Challenge on Nov. 3-5, 2023 in Dallas, Texas.
Juniors John Chin and graduate student James Van Herzeele finished the weekend undefeated to lead the four man contingent for the Broncos.
Senior Caden Moortgat and Jan Lucca Marquardt finished 2-2 in singles and 4-0 as a doubles team, defeating opponents from the University of Arkansas, the University of Tulsa, SMU and Rice University.
WOMEN’S TENNIS
Last weekend, Nov. 3-5, the Broncos capped off their 2023 fall season in the singles silver draw in San Diego.
Senior Nicole Discenza went 3-0 in her singles matches, making a push all the way to the finals where she swept the University of Nevada’s Wiem Boubaker 4-6, 6-3 and 6-4, to win the title.
Junior Bhakti Shah also had a strong performance, finishing third overall to take home the bronze.
Next for women’s tennis, the Broncos will return in January, 2024 to serve up some more butt kicking in the spring season.
WOMEN’S SOCCER
Boise State’s women’s soccer team fell 1-0 to the Utah State University Aggies in the Mountain West Conference Championship semifinals.
The Broncos played great defense in the first half, denying seven shots. The match eventually made its way into overtime.
Utah State went on to convert a free kick early in the first period of overtime. The Broncos had an opportunity to tie up the game with a free kick of their own from junior Kenzie MacMillan, but the Aggies goalkeeper stopped the attempt to push Utah State forward to the Mountain West championship.
“I’m so proud and thankful to have shared this journey with all of the administrators that flew in for it, and all of the players that were here playing or at home supporting,” head coach Jim Thomas said. “I’m also very thankful for my close-knit staff that work with us day in and day out. Just very thankful and full of pride.”
On the season, Boise State finished with a program low in defeats, with four, and Thomas now holds the most wins by any Bronco head coach with 114.
BEACH VOLLEYBALL
Bronco beach volleyball wrapped up the 2023 fall season with a combined 24 wins at two different competitions.
The first was in Huntsville, Alabama. Boise State sent redshirt senior Marlayna Bullington and sophomore Lily Patock to the AVCA National Pairs Championship, where the duo combined for a 3-5 record with wins over Jacksonville University, University of South Carolina and University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Sixteen Broncos traveled to Phoenix to compete in the Grand Canyon’s Lobes Invitational. The team combined for 21 wins over the weekend.
Sophomores Aris Vetter and Abbie Wolf led the squad on Saturday, posting a 3-2 overall record. On Sunday, senior Emily Garus and freshman Addison Wolden had a team best 2-2 showing.
This tournament marks the final matchups of the 2023 fall season for Bronco beach volleyball.
VOLLEYBALL
Boise State volleyball had a tough week, losing both matchups against the University of New Mexico Lobos as well as Air Force.
New Mexico was able to bounce back and defeat the Broncos in four sets 3-1
The team then fell 3-0 to Air Force at home on Nov. 4. Though the matchup was incredibly close throughout, the Falcons were able to seal a win against the Broncos.
Paige Bartsch led with a team-high 23 kills and 25 points, the 23 kills gave her back-to-back matches with 20-plus kills.
In the game against Air Force, Bartsch became the 17th Bronco in history to reach the 1,000 career kills milestone; she now sits at 1,010, which is 17th all-time. Bartsch has 439 kills this season, ranking fifth all-time and during the rally scoring era.The Broncos now sit with a 11-12 overall record and 7-7 in the Mountain West.
