Bobcat Spikers Close Regular-Season with Grizzlies
11/13/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
NORTHWESTERN ENERGY CLASSIC: The Montana State volleyball team will play itsfinal regular-season match against rival Montana in the Northwestern Energy Classic,Friday,Nov. 15 at 7 p.m., in Worthington Arena. The change of venue is to accommodate an
expected record-breaking crowd. The match will also honor MSU’s three seniors, Aimee
Halyk, Ana Schanze and Lindsay Stobbs. In addition, it will be MSU head coach Dave
Gantt’s final match as Bobcat mentor. Gantt, who will transition into Senior Associate Athletic
Director for External Operations, will be honored following the match.
THE STARTERS: Tentative starters for Friday night are:
S Kamber Kelly, 5-9, so., 0.74 kpg 11.04 apg .206%
MB Ana Schanze, 6-0, sr., 2.57 kpg 1.73 bpg .344%
MB Megan Zanto, 6-2, fr., 2.16 kpg 1.38 bpg .348%
OH Aimee Halyk, 6-0, sr., 3.06 kpg 1.13 bpg .305%
OH LeAnn Kinvig, 6-0, so., 2.52 kpg 3.00 dpg .194%
OH Meggie Malyurek, 6-0, fr., 2.58 kpg 2.52 dpg .158%
WRAPPING THE WEEK THAT WAS: The Bobcats split a pair of Big Sky road matches
last week. MSU opened with a 30-28, 21-30, 30-24, 30-12 win over Northern Arizona. Ana
Schanze led MSU with 26 kills, while Megan Zanto added 10 kills and 10 blocks. For the
match, the ‘Cats recorded 19 blocks, which was a Rolle Activity Center four-game record.
On Saturday, Sacramento State handed the Bobcats a 30-19, 30-21, 27-30, 30-22 setback.
Aimee Halyk notched 15 kills, while Schanze and LeAnn Kinvig added 11 each.
MONTANA STATE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Senior Ana Schanze was named
Montana State Player of the Week for her efforts as the Bobcats split a pair of matches last
weekend. The 6-foot middle blocker from Hamburg, Germany, notched one of the best
performances of the Big Sky season with 26 kills, a .641 (21-1-39) attack mark and seven
blocks. For the weekend, she averaged 4.63 kills and 1.75 blocks, while hitting an impressive
.484 from the floor.
SCOUTING THE GRIZZLIES: The University of Montana enters Friday night’s match
with a 7-17 overall mark and a 1-12 ledger in Big Sky action. Last weekend, the Grizzlies
were mathematically eliminated from Big Sky Conference postseason play, after dropping a
pair of league road matches, losing 3-0 at Sacramento State and 3-2 at Northern Arizona.
Against the Hornets, Montana was led by Lizzie Wertz with 19 kills and 11 digs, while Katy
Kubista added 10 kills and a .474 attack mark. On Saturday, the Grizzlies lost their 7th
five-game conference match at NAU. Against the Lumberjacks, UM was paced by Wertz
with 20 kills and 14 digs, while Teresa Stringer added 14 kills and three blocks. Earlier this
season, Montana State defeated the Grizzlies 28-30, 30-20, 26-30, 30-27, 15-9 in Missoula.
In the match, MSU was led by Megan Zanto with 16 kills, a .484 attack mark and seven
blocks. Also contributing for the ‘Cats was Kamber Kelly with 47 assists, 18 digs and eight
blocks. Montana was paced by Whitney Pavlik with 23 kills and 26 digs, while Lizzie Wertz
notched 20 kills and 29 digs. On the season, Wertz and Pavlik have guided UM, averaging
4.41 and 3.37 kills, respectively.
HARD BLOCK CAFE: The Bobcats continue to be the top blocking team in the Big Sky
Conference and are ranked fifth in the nation, as well. As a team, the ‘Cats are averaging 3.55
blocks per game. Only Stanford, Notre Dame, Nebraska and Long Beach State rank ahead
of the ‘Cats. Senior Ana Schanze remains the top blocker in the league and is No. 3 in the
country at 1.73 bpg. In all, the Bobcats have four players (Schanze, Zanto, Kelly, Halyk) who
average 1.00 block or better in Big Sky Conference action.
BIG SKY CONFERENCE PRESEASON POLL: The Bobcats were picked to finish third
in the preseason Big Sky Conference Coaches Poll. Defending regular-season champions
Sacramento State and Big Sky tourney champ Eastern Washington tied with 46 votes,
followed by MSU 32, Weber State 31, Northern Arizona 25, Idaho State 17, Montana 17,
and Portland State 10. Last season, the Bobcats finished 5th with an 8-6 league record.
THE WORLD ACCORDING TO GANTT: "This will be an emotional match. Not
only is it a rivalry match, but it is Senior Night and my last home game as head coach at
Montana State. The kids are really looking forward to the match and we want to gain
some momentum heading into the Big Sky Conference tournament. What can’t be
overlooked is that Montana is a very good club in spite of their record. They’ve lost
seven five-game matches and could easily be playing us for third place. " --MSU head
coach Dave Gantt
CLEARLY CANADIAN: Senior Aimee Halyk continues to pace the Bobcats offensively,
averaging 3.06 kills per game. Last weekend, the native of Esterhazy, Saskatchewan, tallied
22 kills, 15 blocks, nine digs and two ace as the Bobcats split with Northern Arizona and
Sacramento State. Halyk recorded her best mark of the weekend with 15 kills and seven
blocks against the Hornets. On the season, Halyk has notched 17 double-digit kill matches.
She has totaled 324 kills this season, giving her 976 for her career. Halyk is 24 kills away from
becoming the 12th member of MSU’s prestigious 1000-kill club.
KAMBER’S KUDOS: Setter Kamber Kelly continues her assualt on the all-time MSU
record book in only her second season with the Bobcats. Last weekend, the 5-foot-9 native of
Roundup, Mont., tallied 81 assists, which gives her 1,506 on her career and only 230 assists
away from moving into MSU’s all-time top five. In addition, she is averaging 2.77 digs and .92
blocks per outing. Kelly also leads the Bobcats in aces with 33 service winners. Last
weekend, she had one of her best offensive outputs of the fall with 10 kills, no errors and a
two-match .476 hitting percentage.
ZANTOLATING: Freshman Megan Zanto recorded her fifth double-figure kill outing in
MSU’s past six matches with ten against Northern Arizona last Thursday night. Zanto also
notched a double-double by adding ten blocks, as well. On the weekend, she recorded 16
kills and 13 blocks.
BREAKING RECORDS: The Bobcats have already broke or are on the verge of breaking
numerous team and individual all-time and single-season records at Montana State. Most of
the records come in MSU’s forte’ -- blocking. Senior Ana Schanze continues to add to her
record-breaking single-season mark for block assists. Her current total stands at 151, which
smashed the old-record of 138 set by Karen Weyler in 1994. Schanze is also closing in on
Weyler’s single-season total block mark of 175. To date, Schanze has posted 170 total
blocks. As a team, the ‘Cats have tallied 375 total blocks, which is just shy of the all-time
single-season record of 387.5 set in 1983. The ‘Cats have already surpassed the former
single-season block assists mark of 587. MSU has combined for 616 block assists this
season, which is second all-time in Big Sky Conference history, trailing only Montana’s 638
block assists in 1994. Schanze’s 1.73 blocks average is currently 3rd all-time.
expected record-breaking crowd. The match will also honor MSU’s three seniors, Aimee
Halyk, Ana Schanze and Lindsay Stobbs. In addition, it will be MSU head coach Dave
Gantt’s final match as Bobcat mentor. Gantt, who will transition into Senior Associate Athletic
Director for External Operations, will be honored following the match.
THE STARTERS: Tentative starters for Friday night are:
S Kamber Kelly, 5-9, so., 0.74 kpg 11.04 apg .206%
MB Ana Schanze, 6-0, sr., 2.57 kpg 1.73 bpg .344%
MB Megan Zanto, 6-2, fr., 2.16 kpg 1.38 bpg .348%
OH Aimee Halyk, 6-0, sr., 3.06 kpg 1.13 bpg .305%
OH LeAnn Kinvig, 6-0, so., 2.52 kpg 3.00 dpg .194%
OH Meggie Malyurek, 6-0, fr., 2.58 kpg 2.52 dpg .158%
WRAPPING THE WEEK THAT WAS: The Bobcats split a pair of Big Sky road matches
last week. MSU opened with a 30-28, 21-30, 30-24, 30-12 win over Northern Arizona. Ana
Schanze led MSU with 26 kills, while Megan Zanto added 10 kills and 10 blocks. For the
match, the ‘Cats recorded 19 blocks, which was a Rolle Activity Center four-game record.
On Saturday, Sacramento State handed the Bobcats a 30-19, 30-21, 27-30, 30-22 setback.
Aimee Halyk notched 15 kills, while Schanze and LeAnn Kinvig added 11 each.
MONTANA STATE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Senior Ana Schanze was named
Montana State Player of the Week for her efforts as the Bobcats split a pair of matches last
weekend. The 6-foot middle blocker from Hamburg, Germany, notched one of the best
performances of the Big Sky season with 26 kills, a .641 (21-1-39) attack mark and seven
blocks. For the weekend, she averaged 4.63 kills and 1.75 blocks, while hitting an impressive
.484 from the floor.
SCOUTING THE GRIZZLIES: The University of Montana enters Friday night’s match
with a 7-17 overall mark and a 1-12 ledger in Big Sky action. Last weekend, the Grizzlies
were mathematically eliminated from Big Sky Conference postseason play, after dropping a
pair of league road matches, losing 3-0 at Sacramento State and 3-2 at Northern Arizona.
Against the Hornets, Montana was led by Lizzie Wertz with 19 kills and 11 digs, while Katy
Kubista added 10 kills and a .474 attack mark. On Saturday, the Grizzlies lost their 7th
five-game conference match at NAU. Against the Lumberjacks, UM was paced by Wertz
with 20 kills and 14 digs, while Teresa Stringer added 14 kills and three blocks. Earlier this
season, Montana State defeated the Grizzlies 28-30, 30-20, 26-30, 30-27, 15-9 in Missoula.
In the match, MSU was led by Megan Zanto with 16 kills, a .484 attack mark and seven
blocks. Also contributing for the ‘Cats was Kamber Kelly with 47 assists, 18 digs and eight
blocks. Montana was paced by Whitney Pavlik with 23 kills and 26 digs, while Lizzie Wertz
notched 20 kills and 29 digs. On the season, Wertz and Pavlik have guided UM, averaging
4.41 and 3.37 kills, respectively.
HARD BLOCK CAFE: The Bobcats continue to be the top blocking team in the Big Sky
Conference and are ranked fifth in the nation, as well. As a team, the ‘Cats are averaging 3.55
blocks per game. Only Stanford, Notre Dame, Nebraska and Long Beach State rank ahead
of the ‘Cats. Senior Ana Schanze remains the top blocker in the league and is No. 3 in the
country at 1.73 bpg. In all, the Bobcats have four players (Schanze, Zanto, Kelly, Halyk) who
average 1.00 block or better in Big Sky Conference action.
BIG SKY CONFERENCE PRESEASON POLL: The Bobcats were picked to finish third
in the preseason Big Sky Conference Coaches Poll. Defending regular-season champions
Sacramento State and Big Sky tourney champ Eastern Washington tied with 46 votes,
followed by MSU 32, Weber State 31, Northern Arizona 25, Idaho State 17, Montana 17,
and Portland State 10. Last season, the Bobcats finished 5th with an 8-6 league record.
THE WORLD ACCORDING TO GANTT: "This will be an emotional match. Not
only is it a rivalry match, but it is Senior Night and my last home game as head coach at
Montana State. The kids are really looking forward to the match and we want to gain
some momentum heading into the Big Sky Conference tournament. What can’t be
overlooked is that Montana is a very good club in spite of their record. They’ve lost
seven five-game matches and could easily be playing us for third place. " --MSU head
coach Dave Gantt
CLEARLY CANADIAN: Senior Aimee Halyk continues to pace the Bobcats offensively,
averaging 3.06 kills per game. Last weekend, the native of Esterhazy, Saskatchewan, tallied
22 kills, 15 blocks, nine digs and two ace as the Bobcats split with Northern Arizona and
Sacramento State. Halyk recorded her best mark of the weekend with 15 kills and seven
blocks against the Hornets. On the season, Halyk has notched 17 double-digit kill matches.
She has totaled 324 kills this season, giving her 976 for her career. Halyk is 24 kills away from
becoming the 12th member of MSU’s prestigious 1000-kill club.
KAMBER’S KUDOS: Setter Kamber Kelly continues her assualt on the all-time MSU
record book in only her second season with the Bobcats. Last weekend, the 5-foot-9 native of
Roundup, Mont., tallied 81 assists, which gives her 1,506 on her career and only 230 assists
away from moving into MSU’s all-time top five. In addition, she is averaging 2.77 digs and .92
blocks per outing. Kelly also leads the Bobcats in aces with 33 service winners. Last
weekend, she had one of her best offensive outputs of the fall with 10 kills, no errors and a
two-match .476 hitting percentage.
ZANTOLATING: Freshman Megan Zanto recorded her fifth double-figure kill outing in
MSU’s past six matches with ten against Northern Arizona last Thursday night. Zanto also
notched a double-double by adding ten blocks, as well. On the weekend, she recorded 16
kills and 13 blocks.
BREAKING RECORDS: The Bobcats have already broke or are on the verge of breaking
numerous team and individual all-time and single-season records at Montana State. Most of
the records come in MSU’s forte’ -- blocking. Senior Ana Schanze continues to add to her
record-breaking single-season mark for block assists. Her current total stands at 151, which
smashed the old-record of 138 set by Karen Weyler in 1994. Schanze is also closing in on
Weyler’s single-season total block mark of 175. To date, Schanze has posted 170 total
blocks. As a team, the ‘Cats have tallied 375 total blocks, which is just shy of the all-time
single-season record of 387.5 set in 1983. The ‘Cats have already surpassed the former
single-season block assists mark of 587. MSU has combined for 616 block assists this
season, which is second all-time in Big Sky Conference history, trailing only Montana’s 638
block assists in 1994. Schanze’s 1.73 blocks average is currently 3rd all-time.
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