Gantt Coaches Bobcats to Five-Game Thriller Over Montana
11/15/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Hollywood couldn’t have written a better script. Montana Statehead coach Dave Gantt’s final match at home, arecord-breaking crowd of 6,378, and outside hitter AimeeHalyk notching the match winning kill on Senior Night.
"It was a very emotional night and the thrill of a five-gamematch was fitting," said Gantt, who finishes his ninth season withthe Bobcats. "Our serve-receive broke down at times, but westayed patient and kept working. The crowd was absolutelytremendous and they helped lift us to the win."
Halyk’s 11th kill of the match gave Montana State a 30-24,26-30, 30-21, 26-30, 15-10 win over Montana. The Grizzliesdropped their eighth five-game match of the season.
"Montana is a good team," Gantt said. "They play outstanding defense. I think that over time,
we wore them down and our block did an outstanding job in the final few games."
Montana State (20-9, 10-4) was led by senior Ana Schanze, who notched a team-high 17
kills, while also adding a match-high 14 blocks. Also in double-figures for the Bobcats were
Halyk and LeAnn Kinvig with ten kills. Setter Kamber Kelly dished out 34 assists and added a
team-high 23 digs. MSU finished with four players in double-digit digs led by Kelly, Kinvig 20,
Kiki Pemoller 15 and Natalie Paredes 11.
In the opening game, MSU jumped out to a 16-10 advantage on a Kinvig kill, before Montana
(7-18, 1-13) rallied to close to within 17-16 on a Lizzie Wertz kill. The Bobcats expanded
their lead to 26-19 following a Grizzly hitting error. MSU won the game on a Megan Zanto
kill.
In the second stanza, Montana fought back from a 14-9 deficit with a 9-1 run to take an
18-15 advantage on another Wertz kill. The Grizzlies held on to win the game on a kill by
Wertz. Following a Whitney Pavlik kill to give UM a 15-13 margin in game three, Montana
State stormed back with a 10-2 run to
take a 23-17 lead on a UM ball-handling
error. MSU put the game away on a
Kinvig kill.
Montana out-hit the Bobcats in game four
.136 to .019 and won the stanza on a
Wertz kill. The game featured nine ties
before the Grizzlies pulled away down the
stretch. In the fifth and deciding game,
MSU jumped out to an 8-6 advantage
following a Kinvig kill. Montana knotted
the score at 8-8 and 9-9, before the
Bobcats scored three unanswered points
to take a 12-9 lead on a Kelly ace. MSUclose out the victory on a Halyk kill.
Montana was paced in the loss by Wertzwith 24 kills and 22 digs, while Pavlikadded 19 kills and a match-high 32 digs.
Montana State will play in the Big SkyConference tournament next weekend.
"It was a very emotional night and the thrill of a five-gamematch was fitting," said Gantt, who finishes his ninth season withthe Bobcats. "Our serve-receive broke down at times, but westayed patient and kept working. The crowd was absolutelytremendous and they helped lift us to the win."
Halyk’s 11th kill of the match gave Montana State a 30-24,26-30, 30-21, 26-30, 15-10 win over Montana. The Grizzliesdropped their eighth five-game match of the season.
"Montana is a good team," Gantt said. "They play outstanding defense. I think that over time,
we wore them down and our block did an outstanding job in the final few games."
Montana State (20-9, 10-4) was led by senior Ana Schanze, who notched a team-high 17
kills, while also adding a match-high 14 blocks. Also in double-figures for the Bobcats were
Halyk and LeAnn Kinvig with ten kills. Setter Kamber Kelly dished out 34 assists and added a
team-high 23 digs. MSU finished with four players in double-digit digs led by Kelly, Kinvig 20,
Kiki Pemoller 15 and Natalie Paredes 11.
In the opening game, MSU jumped out to a 16-10 advantage on a Kinvig kill, before Montana
(7-18, 1-13) rallied to close to within 17-16 on a Lizzie Wertz kill. The Bobcats expanded
their lead to 26-19 following a Grizzly hitting error. MSU won the game on a Megan Zanto
kill.
In the second stanza, Montana fought back from a 14-9 deficit with a 9-1 run to take an
18-15 advantage on another Wertz kill. The Grizzlies held on to win the game on a kill by
Wertz. Following a Whitney Pavlik kill to give UM a 15-13 margin in game three, Montana
State stormed back with a 10-2 run to
take a 23-17 lead on a UM ball-handling
error. MSU put the game away on a
Kinvig kill.
Montana out-hit the Bobcats in game four
.136 to .019 and won the stanza on a
Wertz kill. The game featured nine ties
before the Grizzlies pulled away down the
stretch. In the fifth and deciding game,
MSU jumped out to an 8-6 advantage
following a Kinvig kill. Montana knotted
the score at 8-8 and 9-9, before the
Bobcats scored three unanswered points
to take a 12-9 lead on a Kelly ace. MSUclose out the victory on a Halyk kill.
Montana was paced in the loss by Wertzwith 24 kills and 22 digs, while Pavlikadded 19 kills and a match-high 32 digs.
Montana State will play in the Big SkyConference tournament next weekend.
Wednesday, June 10
Friday, March 27
Monday, March 23
Friday, March 13
