Coming off a record breaking season with over 15,000 in attendance, the Broncos expect to have another sold out volleyball season upon ticket renewals. This fall’s schedule consists of 30 matches, 12 taking place in the Bronco Gym.
Non-Conference
This season will kick off in Tucson, AZ for the Cactus Classic where the Broncos will play the University of Arizona, Tennessee State and Virginia Commonwealth University.
The team will make their way north to the Ellesyn Invitational in Montana, followed by the Boise
State Classic where they face Cal State, Gonzaga, and in-state rival Idaho State. Boise State has an all time record of 58-45 versus the trio.
After a two-match win against the Bengals last season, fans expect to see another victory in this rivalry. As for Gonzaga and Cal State, the Broncos have not faced these opponents in several years, so the question on who will come out on top still remains.
The Stephen F. Austin tournament will conclude the non-conference games. Here we’ll see the Broncos take on McNeese State University, the University of Texas San Antonio and host Stephen F. Austin University. Boise should be warmed up to take on these three teams, whom they’ve only encountered a handful of times.
Mountain West
The Mountain West schedule will set the Broncos up to compete at an extremely competitive level. They’ll play 11 teams, two of which made the 2023 NCAA Championship last fall.
Boise is 135-95 all-time in the Mountain West. They are coming off a 14-15 overall record and a 10-8 in the league where they tied for fourth place.
“I think the conference schedule teams are all really good. We were picked third in the preseason poll, but I feel like there are seven really good teams,” said Head Coach Shawn Garus. “Seven of the 11 have the talent to win this league, if they stay healthy and win the close matches. So, week in and week out, we’re going to have really good competition coming through Bronco gym.”
Colorado State is favored to win the regular season title as they’re coming off a season with a 19-
12 overall record and were runners up in the Mountain West Tournament last year.
Other tough competitors to keep an eye out for in this conference are Utah State, Fresno State, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Wyoming and San Diego State.
Key Veterans
Annie Kaminski:
The Bellevue, Idaho native, is coming back for her sixth year with the Broncos and will be pursuing her masters degree in Athletic Leadership.
Kaminski has earned several honors as middle blocker at Boise State including 3x Academic All-Mountain West, 2x Mountain West Scholar-Athlete, Mountain West Newcomer of the Year, All-Mountain West Honorable Mention and All- Mountain West.
Paige Bartsch:
Paige Bartsch has been all the talk around Boise State athletics as she was named Mountain West Player of the Year for the second time.
To add, Bartsch has received countless other titles such as 3x All Conference Team, 3x Mountain West Scholar-Athlete, 3x Academic All-Mountain West, 4x Mountain West Offensive Player of the Week, Boise State Female Student-Athlete of the Year and the list goes on.
She was also the first Boise State athlete to be named to a Bronco Ford NIL deal, one of the most profitable NIL deals in school history.
Bartsch was recruited as a middle blocker but was able to quickly transition to right side, to now outside hitter. Coming off an incredible year where she gained 20 kills in 13 games, fans are eager to see what she will accomplish in her final year with the Broncos.
“She serves tough, she passes well, she blocks big and she hits great,” Head Coach Garus said. “So she’s a multi dimensional player, and teams will try to slow her down, but she has too many facets to her game, and she’s always there for us. So just a well rounded style of play going along with the lead athlete makes it really special.”
Reagan Casey:
Redshirt senior started off her collegiate career at Missouri State, transferred to Blinn College and came to Boise State her junior year. She will be returning for a fifth year as the third member of this leadership trio.
“Those three seniors, they’re all great players, but I love the leadership characteristics that they bring,” said Garus. “I think they know how important it is to embrace and pour into their teammates so that they can win now. “
Newcomers
Lilli Etter and Kiki Remensperger:
Coach Garus is looking forward to what these incoming freshmen will bring to the team as setters this season.
Etter is from Spokane, Washington and won three consecutive Washington 4A State championships.
Remensperger is from San Diego and helped lead her high school team to the regional semifinals as captain and MVP.
“Those two have a tremendous skill set for incoming freshmen. They’re also a type of competitor that I think our seniors are excited to play with,” said Garus. “They’re very focused on they want to be good, and they want to win, and they will also enjoy college, and their teammates as well. But because they say, show up to compete, they’re embraced by the seniors that much more. And I think that gives them a chance to impact our lineup right away.”
